Cut down in the prime of life by a fatal accident, Mr. and Mrs. Blake leave their daughter Valerie in the care of Louis Martin, a friend. Brought up in an atmosphere of love and contentment, Valerie feels keenly the loss of her parents. In her life with Louis Martin, though he is all kindness and gentleness, she is not happy for he does not understand her. When Preston Sperry asks Martin for consent to win Valerie's hand, Martin feels that is the answer to a puzzling question, and gladly gives his consent. As Sperry's wife, Valerie finds all her artistic tendencies and bright nature crushed in the ruthlessness of his cold and staid nature. On the birth of a little son, Valerie finds a new interest in life, but even here she is oppressed and crushed by Sperry, who does not believe in the sentimental, artistic training of his son. He wants the boy to grow up a hard, stern man like himself. Valerie, in desperation goes back to her art studies, and finds appreciation, sympathy and understanding in Hugo St. Clair, an artist. They fall in love, and finally leave for Europe together. His pride hurt, Sperry does everything possible to prevent a scandal, but the child cries constantly for its mother. Finally it falls ill, and with the aid of Martin, Valerie's heart is touched through the love for the child, and, renouncing St. Clair, she returns to her coldly scornful husband. The whole affair is kept quiet. Solaced only by the love of her child, Valerie resumes the old desolate life in the chill atmosphere of her husband's presence.