Speck Brown, a country boy, is reared by the cruel Deacon Jones, who insists that Speck attend school. Speck is happy with the local boys and his dog, Hippy, as companions and is fond of his kindly schoolteacher, but when she defends the boy against his guardian, the deacon forces her to resign. A stranger comes to town, and through his kindness Speck is able to go to New York City; at a private school he continues his boyish pranks and is snubbed at a party he gives for his wealthy neighbors. He becomes involved in a scheme perpetrated by two friends who turn out to be crooked and plot to rob the house in which he is living. Disgusted with society, and realizing that money cannot buy him happiness, he returns to his boyhood hometown.