Plot

Cherry, the youngest daughter of Dr. Strickland, marries Martin Lloyd; and Peter, a neighbor who was in love with her, unhappily begins a world tour. Returning home, Peter finds that the doctor has died, leaving the older daughter, Alix, alone; and he marries her out of desperation. Cherry, unhappy with her marriage, leaves her husband and comes to live with her sister and Peter; learning that Peter still loves her, Cherry agrees to run away with him, but they are discovered by his wife and upbraided. Martin is injured in a logging camp accident, and Cherry, realizing that she still loves her husband, goes to him. Peter resolves to free Alix, but she forgives him and they agree to start anew.—AFI

Dr. Strickland has two daughters; Alix, the eldest, and Cherry. Anne, the doctor's niece, also lives with them. Their neighbor, Peter Joyce, has been like a brother to the three girls for years, and he secretly loves Cherry. Anne's beau is Martin Lloyd, but Martin falls for Cherry. Cherry and Martin are married.

Anne marries an unscrupulous lawyer. Peter tells Alix he is taking a trip around the world to "forget a woman." Dr. Strickland dies, and his fortune is divided equally between Cherry, Alix, and Anne. Anne discovers that her father, Strickland's brother, had loaned Strickland money, but that it was never repaid. So her husband puts in a claim against the estate, which leaves Alix and Cherry less inheritance than they thought. Meanwhile, Martin has been working in a lumber town, making little money, and Cherry has become disillusioned with her marriage. Peter returns from his trip. He and Alix decide to marry to escape loneliness. Cherry leaves Martin and comes to Alix's home. Alix tries to persuade Cherry to return to Martin, but Peter sides with Cherry.

Later, Peter confesses his love to Cherry. Martin shows up and insists Cherry return with him, but Cherry tells him she does not love him. A short later, Alix overhears Cherry and Peter plotting to run away the next morning. She sits up all night and intercepts them before they can leave. Alix upbraids her sister for being selfish and spoiled. Then words reaches them that Martin has been injured at the camp. Cherry runs to her husband and nurses him day and night, determined to make the marriage work. Peter, humiliated by his actions, tells Alix the only decent thing he can do is leave her so she is free. Alix tells Peter that no one can free anyone from the vow of marriage, nor can anyone run away from it. The two pledge to make their marriage work.