The Lefferts-Longstreet feud is renewed when young Harney Lefferts is shot accidentally by Lem Beeman, telegraph operator and suitor of Elsie Lefferts. Evidence points to Lee Longstreet, Elsie's true love, and Beeman does not confess until Lee is tried, convicted, and sentenced to die.

Lured to New York with false promises of having her play produced, Lila Lake is forced to accept a secretarial position with Mrs. Julia Hewitt, a dashing young widow secretly married to Jimmy Duval, son of Alice Duval, a prominent society leader. Alice seeks the aid of young lawyer Philip Thorne, who hires detectives to follow Julia; the latter, however, has left town with Jimmy, and Lila has agreed to impersonate her.