Reginald, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Staples, is addicted to drinking and gambling. On his return home late one night, after a long meeting at the club, he is met by his father, who has waited up for him. Reginald takes a handkerchief from his pocket and an ace of clubs drops on the table. The father picks it up and tells his son a story of his young manhood, when his boy was a baby. He tells him of his own craving for drink, while the boy's mother slaved at the wash-tub to support the family, while he gambled and drank in a nearby saloon. Returning home one day, he beats his wife and takes from her her petty savings and rushes from the house. She follows him and is struck by a car and taken home. The shock is sufficient to arouse the manhood in the father, who reforms from that point. The son breaks down at the conclusion of the story and resolves to give up his bad habits.