Mary, the new boarder at Mrs. McCarthy's boarding house, is unable to obtain employment as a music teacher. In need of funds, she accepts a position as model for Robert Delevan, an artist. As the days pass, love springs up between them. Mary is happy in the thought of the home which Delevan has promised to build for her. One evening, as she sits in her room, Mary hears the sobs of Laura Lee, the boarder in the next room. Mary consoles her with words of tenderness and Laura tells her the story of a forlorn love. Once betrothed to Robert Delevan, a foolish quarrel parted them, and unless he wrote an apology, she told him, she would consider the engagement broken. Mary remembers seeing an old maid take a letter from a messenger and promise to deliver it to Laura. Realizing that the old maid, prompted by curiosity, has kept the letter, Mary demands it from her. This proves to Laura that Delevan is not really at fault. "Come to the studio tomorrow," says Mary, "I'll do the rest." Mary determines to sacrifice her own love for Delevan and to unite him once more with Laura. She proceeds to disillusion Delevan. She makes love to all of Delevan's friends as they visit the studio and tries to make apparent that her love for Delevan is merely a sham. During Delevan's absence from the room, a jealous artist attempts to destroy his painting. Mary struggles with him and Laura enters. Delevan then overpowers the artist. "She saved your painting," says Mary, pointing to Laura, and leaves the room as they embrace once more. Thus, this little girl, loving with a pure and simple love, sacrifices this love so that another may not suffer from the pangs which she herself must suffer.