Thomas Hunter, an aged inventor, who has been laboring many years on an automatic elevator for the quick and laborsaving manipulation of coal, is seen in his workshop just putting the finishing touches to his model. To his great delight he finds that the invention is a success and that at last he has realized his life’s ambition. Smiling Fortune has come to him at last. Hunter is enthusiastic about an early disposition of his patent and calls upon H.B. Clifford & Co., promoters of inventions. Clifford is a scoundrel, one of the many wily vampires who prey on the brains and labor of the absorbed man of genius. Hunter is not informed on the technicalities of copyright and patent protection, and after the shrewd eye of the promoter has mentally noted the great possibilities of Hunter’s invention, he accepts a cheek from Clifford for “$10,000 on account” and is advised to leave the model with the promoter, who will endeavor to give it more careful consideration. Some few days later Hunter receives a letter from Clifford stating that while the model has no great value as an invention, he will endeavor to place it. An hour later two or three wealthy capitalists call to inspect the model and write Clifford a big check for the invention. The days go by and Hunter receives no further word from the promoter. His frequent calls at the promoter’s office always receive the same answer: “Mr. Clifford is not in.” In the meantime, Nell Winfield, Clifford’s stenographer, has learned of her employer’s stealing the elevator model. Clifford has made love to the girl and has promised to marry her, but his sudden chance of fortune in the earnings of the elevator model has caused him to change his mind regarding his matrimonial inclinations toward Miss Winfield. This offers her the incentive of wreaking her revenge upon Clifford by informing Hunter, the inventor, that he has been mercilessly cheated by the promoter. In a rage, the old inventor again goes to Clifford’s office. But he is bodily ejected and threatened with arrest if he again enters the office. Hunter patiently waits and later follows Clifford into a café, where the latter is entertaining a number of lady friends. Hunter slips quietly upon Clifford and seizing him by the throat throws him to the floor. In the melee the table is upset and the diners thrown into a panic. The police are called and Hunter is arrested. He is taken to the police station, where he is formally accused of attempted murder by Clifford and Clifford’s companion, but Miss Winfield’s new fiancé, who, with his sweetheart, has heard of Hunter’s arrest, calls at the station and gives bond for the release of the old man. Then Miss Winfield turns to Clifford and accuses him before the desk sergeant of having robbed the old gentleman of his invention. The case is settled in court a few weeks later. Evidence is given and Clifford is clearly defeated. There is a pathetic scene of the old man and his aged wife on the witness stand. But Nell Winfield’s story has won the case for them and the model and the accrued sums, wrongfully taken by Clifford, are restored to the old inventor.