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This murder mystery was based on the novel At the Mercy of Tiberius by Augusta J. Evans Wilson, an author who had been popular in the latter half of the 19th century. Although the title was changed for the better, the title cards depended heavily on the book, which was unfortunate -- by 1921, the language sounded unnatural and stilted. Because her mother (Dorothy Gordon) is seriously ill, Beryl Bretano (Peggy Hyland) resolves to ask her grandfather for money even though he disowned his daughter for marrying against his desires. Beryl shows up at her grandfather's Southern mansion and gets the money, but the next day he is found dead. Beryl is arrested and since she doesn't offer any defense -- she has promised her mother to protect her black sheep brother, who she is sure is involved -- she is convicted. Later on, however, Beryl is freed and she tracks down her brother, who has become a priest. He reveals that he had quarreled with his grandfather that night, but that the old man had been struck down by lightning. The prosecuting attorney, who had tried to help Beryl while she was on trial, now forges a romance with her.