It's Election Day, and while Sir Roger Scatcherd wins the respect of the voters, he succumbs to ill health at the hustings. Doctor Thorne does his best to ease the pain of the cantankerous old man, but he senses the end is near. Scatcherd's son, Louis, is called for and he takes an immediate shine to Mary. Doctor Thorne is horrified to learn that Louis has romantic designs on his niece.Meanwhile, Miss Dunstable urges Frank to follow his heart and stay true to Mary, despite mounting pressure from his family.