Paul Norton, a young artist, dwells with his mother in a country estate of fading grandeur. Learning that Kent Rankin, a wealthy young art student, is stopping at Marvin Mansion, a nearby summer estate, Paul hopes to interest him in his paintings. Kent and the Marvins are leaving in the late autumn for their city home, when Paul calls with a specimen of his work. Ula Marvin admires his work but Kent, who loves her, has only sneers for it and Paul is left alone in humiliation as the Marvin auto departs. A white rose lies in his hand, a token of sympathy from Ula, covertly given. Kent opens his studio in the city and fails miserably. The critics condemn his work. He asks Marvin for Ula’s hand, but is told to prove his worth. Desperate, he sends for some of Paul’s pictures and exhibits them as his own work. The pictures create a sensation and renown comes to Kent. He pays court to Ula more successfully. Far away Paul sits by his mother’s hearth caressing a withered rose. He has Kent’s check for $75 in payment of his pictures. On a cold winter day Ula sets out on an errand to the country mansion in an auto. The gasoline gives out and the chauffeur departs in quest of more. At a village store he gets drunk. Paul discovers Ula nearly frozen and takes her home. She is made comfortable and as she sleeps in the glow of the fire Paul is inspired to paint his great picture “Hearth Lights.” Ula is enthusiastic and poses for him. Love deepens between the two and she yields to his embrace. But he regrets his presumption and vows that they must not meet again. Kent learns that a prize of $5,000 will be given for the best painting entered in a certain club gallery. He secures “Hearth Lights” owing to Paul’s poverty. Ula sends a clipping of the offering to Paul who hastily paints a picture. Paul’s entry is his poorest work and at the exhibition he finds it in an obscure corner. Paul hides himself in a corner in the main gallery; Kent receives the prize for “Hearth Lights.” Ula arrives late and discovers Paul’s entry. Her disappointment hurts Paul. Kent enters, triumphant, and admonished by her father, Ula yields to his lovemaking. Kent shows her his prize-winning “Hearth Lights.” His perfidy dawns upon her and she denounces him before all. Paul is attracted to the spot, and Kent, hopelessly cornered, returns the check, which is transferred to Paul together with fame. Paul is urged to stop with the Marvins. Within the magnificent walls of her home, Paul clasps Ula in his arms, while far away his mother dreams, alone in the light of the hearth.