Ezry Hollins, a hired hand on Caleb Endicott's New England farm, dreams of going to college and spends his evenings studying by the light of the barn lantern. Caleb's daughter Ruth, who has just returned from boarding school, helps Ezry with his lessons, and he soon falls in love with her. Ruth's brother Walter has been embezzling funds from the town bank in order to get himself out of debt, but when he learns that the bank's records are to be examined, he begs Ezry, who is about to depart for college, for a loan. Ezry gives Walter his savings and returns to work with no explanation, which causes the Endicotts to lose their respect for him. When Walter accidentally sets the barn on fire, Ezry heroically rescues him, and out of gratitude, young Endicott finally explains to the family how Ezry saved him from disgrace. Ezry defeats Stuart Morley, a pompous rival for Ruth's affections, in a fight, and she accepts his proposal.