Jim Hackler is the political boss of a small town. When local lawyer Elias Rigby decides to run for Distrct Attorney, Hackler sees a chance to get revenge on Rigby--years ago both men were in the Army and best friends, but Rigby had intercepted letters to Hackler from his sweetheart, and wound up marrying the girl himself. Hackler persuades Rigby's daughter's fiance' to run against him, but things don't quite work out the way he wanted.—[email protected]

Jim Hackler and Elias Rigby had been boyhood friends, and when together they enlisted in the Civil War, both loved the same girl, who, however, favored Jim. In the Army Rigby intercepted the lover's mail, and after the war was ended made the girl his wife, and Jim has been his political enemy ever since. In order to defeat Rigby for prosecuting attorney, Hackler storms the convention of his party, and secures the nomination for Wheeler, without the latter's knowledge. Jim's youthful partner is engaged to Rigby's daughter, Lucy, but despite that fact he is forced to make the race by the County Chairman. Wheeler, however, promises the girl he will not make a personal fight against her father, and lives up to that agreement until Rigby publicly assails him at a political meeting. In an outburst of anger Wheeler thereupon mounts the platform and vigorously denounces Rigby. As a result of this action the engagement is broken. At this juncture Hackler discovers proof that Rigby is a thief, with which he is about to expose and disgrace his enemy when Rigby's wife, toward whom Jim still feels tenderly, pleads with him not to publish the facts of her husband's guilt, and Jim's deathless love for the woman conquers his desire for revenge. Hackler, however, is equal to all emergencies. He so manipulates political wires and so contrives the young man's romantic affairs that, as the smoke of battle clears away, the County chairman and his political protege emerge triumphant, the former with a gratified vengeance, and the latter with his office and his bride.—Moving Picture World synopsis