Plot

Dr. Rundel has devoted his life to developing a formula that will revolutionize the medical world. Fearing that the romance of his assistant, John Stedman, with Martha Wainwright will impede the progress of the formula, Rundell forces Stedman to sign an agreement stipulating that he will postpone marriage until after the completion of the formula. After Rundel's death, Stedman is bound by the agreement, and Martha's father insists that his daughter wed wealthy Allen Cosgrove. When Martha sends Stedman a note that he must give her up, he suffers a breakdown. Martha comes to Stedman's aid and agrees to live with him, thus creating a scandal, which causes a confrontation between Cosgrove and Stedman. The problem is resolved as Dr. Rundel awakens from his dream and destroys the agreement.

Dr. Rundel, a scientist, is devoting his life to the search for a new serum; he is aided by John Stedman, a young chemist. Realizing that his pursuit might not be concluded in his own lifetime, he decides to train Stedman so that he can carry on the work. To this end, he has made his will, leaving to Stedman all his money and the key to the formula, without which the younger man could not hope to find the much-desired serum. Dr. Rundel's only condition is that John devote all his time and energy to the work in hand, which means, automatically, that he shall not marry. John is in love with Martha Wainwright, daughter of a clergyman, and when he attends a social function at the Wainwright home against the doctor's wishes, the latter is incensed. He adds a codicil to his will specifying that John shall not inherit the money and the formula until he signs an agreement not to marry until the work is finished. After Dr. Rundel's death John works hard, secretly hoping that he will succeed in the work and be able to marry Martha. He breaks under the strain, and Martha's father, certain in his own mind, that John never will succeed, urges Martha to marry a wealthy suitor named Cosgrove. She refuses. John collapses and she hurries to him. She realizes that he needs her, and torn by the question of love versus convention, she decides to remain with John. She and John suffer from the scandal her act inspires, and the end comes when she realizes that she is dragging John downward by remaining with him. She then offers to marry Cosgrove, but he offers her only a substitute. John intervenes during a struggle between the girl and Cosgrove. The two men engage in combat. At this stage the picture turns back and shows that all of this action has occurred in a dream of old Dr. Rundel. He is shown dreaming at his table when the telephone awakes him. John, at the other end of the line, announces his engagement to Martha, and the old scientist, the fearful dream still vivid in his mind, readily extends congratulations to his young assistant.