Plot

As part of a divorce settlement, Theodore Ainsley gets custody of his older daughter Millicent, and his wife Elinor gets their younger daughter Jean. The two girls, normally inseparable, can't bear to be away from each other and run away together, but are soon caught by the authorities. Another custody hearing ensues, during which the girls' attorney Horace Craig makes an unusual, and somewhat shocking, proposal.—frankfob2@yahoo.com

Millicent and her little sister Jean are the subjects of much gossip in a small town. The two girls live alone in the "House of Mystery" with an old nurse and one servant and do not associate with their neighbors. Horace Craig, a law student, who has come to temporarily fill the place of schoolmaster, sees the mischievous girls while they are playing pranks upon the minister. He asks who they are and is told as much about them as anyone in town knows. It is reported that the parents have been divorced, so the innocent girls are shunned by the "righteous" villagers. Craig decides it his duty to see that the girls come to school. He goes to their home and when he states his errand, their governess Susan informs him that she has always been their teacher. In the village one day he interrupts a fight between Millicent and Jean and a crowd of village children, and takes the girls home. He is invited in by Susan and is shown the schoolroom and Millicent's workshop. Unusual for a girl, she has a remarkable bent for mechanics and proudly displays the results of her skill. An officer from the city arrives with a court order that the children be returned to the city. They refuse to go, but he captures little Jean and takes her away in his machine. Millicent is frantic and when Craig comes to tell him the story of their family tragedy, Craig explains to Millicent that she must obey the summons and offers to help them if he can. Jean arrives in town and is taken to her father's home. Having secured his divorce, he is married again to a young society woman. The officer shows an order that they must appear the following morning to have the court decide what disposition shall be made of the girls. the next day in court Millicent is given to the father and Jean to the mother. At a reception Millicent overhears gossip concerning her father and mother and their neglect of the girls. This brings little Jean's position forcibly to her and she leaves at once and goes to the mother's home. She goes up to Jean's room and says she has come to take her away. They hurriedly escape. While Millicent has been at her father's house she has wondered at the neglect of Craig, for she does not know that he has called upon her and been told that she was not at home. He supposes that riches has turned her head. The father and mother missed the girls and locate them at Susan's. In the morning a deputy sheriff arrives and the three are ordered to court. There Craig, having been admitted to the bar, suddenly appears and assumes their defense. He pictures the condition of the children and wins the judge's sympathy, who remarks that if the older girl were married he could give her custody of Jean. Craig asks a minute private conference with his clients and taking them into an anteroom proposes that Millicent marry him. Jean and Susan urge her to accept and her own heart prompts her to say yes. They all return to the courtroom where Craig announces to the court that he is to marry the older girl immediately. The judge gives them the custody of little Jean and their troubles are at an end.—Moving Picture World synopsis