Through the death of her mother, Ethel McGuire is left to take care of her brother and two little sisters. Practically in destitute circumstances, a representative of the Cruelty to Children Prevention Society calls to take the children away from Ethel. She, however, does not allow the gentleman to take the children, having provided herself with a revolver borrowed from her neighbor upstairs. Two policemen are notified, who try in vain to accomplish what the representative had failed to do. They also are rebuked. Seeing the policemen on the street excited, a young fellow passing, takes it for granted that there is a fire in the building, and calls out the engines. The fire department arrives, they also are unsuccessful in their attempt. The Rev. McDonald, seeing the large crowd gathered about the tenement house. goes upstairs, where he sees Ethel protecting the young children with a revolver, from the now maddened throng, straightens things out to everybody’s satisfaction.