An old professor of chemistry, a widower, who has eared for his young ward, Alice, since childhood and has watched her blossom into beautiful womanhood until his old heart beats quicker at her glance finally, as time passes on, finds himself in love with his young ward. He has won her respect and affection, and out of duty to him she accepts his offer of marriage, fully believing at the time that he will make her happy and with no thought that anything will ever arise to make her regret her course. It is at this period that our story actually opens in the professor’s rose garden, among his books and flowers, his promised bride interrupts him in his studies and he dissects for her a rose. A letter is received from his son, congratulating him upon his coming marriage and informing him that he will return home before the wedding takes place. The professor expresses great joy and pride in his son’s return, while Alice exhibits only mild pleasure. She hardly remembers him, as it has been years since she last saw him. During the next scene in the professor’s laboratory a chemical explosion occurs in which the professor loses his sight. The son hastens home at the news of his father’s affliction. It is then that Alice and the son meet again. This meeting makes a great change in each of their lives, and when next we see them, a few weeks later, they have fallen deeply in love with each other; but they try to hide their feelings till in the rose garden, over the old sun-dial, the truth is revealed in a look, a touch of the hand. When the old professor finds them together the first lie of guilt is told. Then follows a series of terrifically strong dramatic scenes, in which the son and father’s ward, their hearts aflame with love, try to crush out the fire that they may not mar the life of one whom they both love and respect. One day the professor suddenly regains his sight. With great joy he hastens to acquaint his ward and son of the glad news, when all at once he realizes that a new love has sprung up in the heart of his rose. His is too noble a nature to sacrifice youth for old age, and after a beautiful, pathetic scene in which his heart is torn with conflicting emotions he leads his ward into the arms of his son. Their hearts united, the old professor turns sadly back to his books and crucibles.