Thomas Lloyd writes to Mrs. Willis, an old friend living in a small village, that he has an opening in his city office for one of her two sons. Both Ed and Joe are in love with Ellen, a village belle. Ed goes to the city and Joe stays on the farm. This displeases Ellen, for she wants Joe, and also wants to live in the city. Ed becomes interested in Flossy, of his boarding house. She makes him spend freely and he steals from his employer. His employer finds it out, but won’t prosecute him on account of his mother. He makes Ed go borne and Flossy throws him over. Ed is welcomed home by Ellen, who tells him that she has broken her engagement to Joe. Lloyd has come to the village and these three overhear him telling Mrs. Willis of her son’s dishonesty. Lloyd then offers to give the widow’s other son a chance. Joe goes in search of Ellen and finds her at their old trysting place, the old hollow tree, where, after a pretty little love scene, Ellen and Joe forget all their differences, happy with the thoughts of their future.