AllMovie

In this drama, a young mother refuses to marry her son's father because he is too violent. The young father has a secret brother, a mute, whom his ashamed parents have locked away in an insane asylum. One day a cruel guard turns a hose upon him and, because he is deathly afraid of water, the terrified young man escapes. Later he meets his nephew and the two become friends. Soon after, the quiet misanthrope sees his new friend drowning. Overcoming his fear, the fellow jumps in to save the lad. He is carrying the unconscious boy to safety when the posse appears. Thinking he has hurt the boy, they beat the man and return him to the hospital. Later the boy runs away to be with the mute and his father pursues him. Once there, the boy locks his father in a room filled with other patients. It is then that the father is forced to realize that the patients are gentle and will not hurt his son. He promises to visit his brother the next day, causing the elated brother to speak for the first time in years.