On his brother Vance's graduation from college, Guy Lansing Reynolds, a lawyer, promises to take him on a trip to Paris. When the time for leaving comes, Guy finds he cannot accompany Vance and, promising to follow shortly, sends the young man on alone. In Paris, Vance falls into the toils of Vera, an adventuress, and follows her to the "Schwarzwald Haus" in the Black Forest. She accepts his attentions and leads him to believe she returns his love. Prince Eugen, an old and wealthy friend of Vera's, arrives at the inn where they are staying. She must have rank and fortune, and returns to Paris with the prince, leaving a note for Vance telling of her intentions and adding that she no longer cares for him. Disillusioned, the young man shoots himself on the very day his brother arrives at the little German town. Guy learns from the innkeeper the story of Vance's death and swears vengeance on the faithless Vera. Following out his plan, he goes to Paris and there makes her acquaintance under an assumed name. She falls in love with him. He is gradually attracted by her, and inclined to relent, but his hate is rekindled by finding a half-burned picture of Vance in the fireplace. He has his friend Norton paint a life-sized portrait of Vance, and then invites Vera to visit him. The sudden sight of the picture, the disclosure of Guy's identity and his denunciations, drive her partly insane. Remorse-stricken, she returns to her apartments and sends Guy a note saying that on the stroke of five she will destroy herself. He rushes to her home to prevent this but arrives only to receive her dying kiss and prayer for forgiveness.
—Moving Picture World synopsis