The two sons of the minister are very unlike as brothers. Abel is serious and somber-looking, and is following his father to be a minister. John is a lively, bright fellow, who likes the sea and is a sailor. The old minister, who is much respected in the village, has also an adopted daughter, Cassie, who is very fond of John, but the old father does not approve of his profession, but prefers that of Abel. Very much against her will, therefore, Cassie has to be engaged to the latter, as she does not want to hurt her foster-father’s feelings. She cannot resist at time, however, going out with John to the village hall to a dance or other amusement to enjoy herself. When she is out one evening at a dance, John has a quarrel with another fellow. The police are called in, and the matter is reported to the old minister. Abel takes his fiancée away at once, and accuses his brother of being the cause of the quarrel. The old minister settles the affair in the police court, pays the fines, and sends his son John out into the world with a little money, telling him that he must go his own way, and not come back any more. Many years pass. The old father dies. Abel has married Cassie and has taken over his father’s position. John in the meantime has traveled around the world in his ship. One day as they are passing along the coast not far from his old home, a terrible storm springs up and they are shipwrecked. Half-drowned and unconscious, John is thrown upon the rocks, and after gaining consciousness he manages to stagger along the well-known footpath to his old home. Cassie happens to be alone, and is greatly surprised when she sees the face of her old sweetheart. She gives him nourishing food and drink and hurries him off at once, as she expects her husband home at any minute. John leaves as quickly as possible, and directly after Abel enters the room; but he already knows about the strange visitor, and he goes into a terrible temper. He takes a pistol and runs down to the cliffs, where he expects to find his brother. Abel, not looking out for the dangerous paths in his excitement, espies his brother in the distance, and as he is just about to lift his pistol to shoot, he slips on the wet stones and falls many feet down the cliffs. Frightened by the terrible sight, John climbs down the cliffs to where his brother lies, and he carefully picks him up and carries him home. But it is too late, and in his last moments Abel realizes how unjust it was to attack his own brother, as he had intended. Asking his brother’s forgiveness, he request him to look after Cassie, and then passes peacefully away, leaving the other two to work out their good luck in the world.