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Paramount starred Agnes Ayers for the first time in this tragedy, adapted from the novel by Sir Gilbert Parker. Unfortunately, it wasn't a terribly auspicious debut -- the picture was morbid and depressing. A French Canadian pair, Madelinette (Ayers) and Louis Racine (Theodore Kosloff) wed. One of Racine's relative dies, and he supposedly inherits an estate. But one of his enemies questions his right to the inheritance and a fight breaks out. Racine is thrown against a tree, spurring a growth on his back, something which runs in his family. The new husband sends his wife to Europe to pursue a career as an opera singer. Back home he works hard to become a power in the community in the hopes that she will stick by him in spite of his growing deformity. But his doubts seem to be unfounded, since Madelinette returns from Europe and drops everything to take care of him. He winds up losing everything anyway -- a rival usurps his power, and George Fournel (Mahlon Hamilton) shows up to contest the inheritance. Madelinette herself finds the will that gives Fournel the estate. Finally, Racine shoots himself, and Fournel wins the widow's heart.