Fearing an affair between her stepbrother, Peter Waverton, and Margaret Summers, a governess in her house, Lady Hurley orders the girl away, thereby furthering her plans for a match between Peter and Beatrice Dainton, Lady Hurley's niece. Forlorn, Margaret is about to commit suicide when she is rescued by a cabby known as Nighty. Her efforts to communicate with Peter are fruitless, however, as the letters are intercepted by Lady Hurley. Six years pass and Peter is now engaged to Beatrice. One stormy night he decides to open his house to a group of impoverished-looking people, one of whom is Margaret. She has worked for years as a seamstress to support herself and her son, whose father is Peter. Beatrice, witnessing the intense love that still burns between the two, breaks her engagement, allowing Peter to join his wife and child.