After three years of married life, Ethel Spencer bravely tries to convince herself that her husband’s indifference and habitual late hours is due to business preoccupation. John Spencer has few scruples. He lies glibly, and conscience has long ceased to have any meaning for him. Ethel prepares for the theater. It’s her birthday and John has promised to take her. At the club John that night, meets an old college chum, whom he hasn’t seen since bachelor days, and invites him to come round one day “and meet the wife.” Frank Barton, whose friendship for John was never too strong, promises indifferently, that he will call “one of these days.” Meeting another acquaintance on the way home, John is persuaded to come and have a drink at a cabaret. There, John meets its habitués, men and women. One of the women is on more than friendly terms with John, and jokes at the idea of his taking his wife to the theater. After a drink or two, John goes home. Without preliminary excuses, and notwithstanding her reproachful pleading, John gruffly tells his wife that she can go alone to the theater if she wishes. Ethel tearfully removes her finery, and John goes back to the cabaret. The next morning, pleading a week-end business trip to Chicago, John goes off, as Ethel receives an invitation from her old friend, Mildred Barry, pressing her to come out to Fairwood with John for the week-end. Ethel goes alone, and in a spirit of mischief Mildred introduces Ethel as Miss Spencer to all the guests. Among them is Frank Barton, and the two are unaware of each other’s identity. Frank, in every sense a man’s man, is much attracted to Ethel. He loves her deeply from the first introduction and resolves to propose marriage to her. They go out riding together and Frank declares himself. Ethel, bewildered by his tenderness, yields to his embrace and as suddenly repents. Her perplexed companion questions her, and catches the half-whispered reply, “I’m married; I’m Mrs. Spencer.” Late that afternoon, Ethel tells Frank of their hostess’s joke, and how his kindness made her forget herself. As Ethel begs his forgiveness, a shadow crosses. John Spencer and his lady companion, of the cabaret, have been improving the shining hour at Fairwood, and John has overheard a few remarks which fell from Ethel not highly complementary to himself. Home once again, the husband resolves to punish his wife for her supposed treachery. Frank Barton is summoned to the house. The irate husband, meanwhile, bullying and cursing the butler, vents some of his spite upon that worthy and drives him from the house with oaths and blows. The old valet’s heart bleeds for his beloved mistress, and he waits about; he knows his master’s black mood will not end well. Frank arrives, and is astonished to confront John and “Miss Spencer.” John, maliciously misconstruing his wife’s terrified scrutiny of his friend, insults both with a vile accusation. Instantly there’s a fight. Frank forces John up against the portieres, and John drops in a heap, dead. A dagger is found neatly embedded in his left side. The police arrive and arrest Frank, who is circumstantially guilty. Frank makes no denial and allows himself to be led away, as the old butler is brought in trembling between two stalwart policemen. Terrified and unable to speak, he looks around the little group until his gaze is fastened on his beloved little mistress. He drops on his knees before her, and between his sobs they hear the words: “Forgive me, I’m sorry it happened, but he was mean to both of us.” The old servant is led away to answer justice and society. The future of the widow and her late husband’s “friend” can only be happily conjectured.