Plot

Madeline, a young widow, erects a cross on the seashore in memory of her husband, who was lost at sea. She lives with her father on the coast of Maine. A celebrated artist recognizes her ability and offers to help her become an artist.

Talented as a sculptress, Madeline Bates, a young widow, carves a cross, which she afterwards erects on the seashore in memory of her husband, who was lost at sea. Madeline lives with her father in a small fishing village on the coast of Maine. One day, while resting on the monument, a celebrated artist visits her home and. recognizing her ability, induces her to go to the city and study art under his tuition. She accepts his offer and becomes famous. Among her acquaintances is a married man, who pays marked attentions to her, regardless of her indifference to his advances. Another woman, jealous of Madeline, writes her father that his daughter is compromising herself with other men. Madeline's father hastens from his home and calls on her. At the same time, her insistent wooer happens to be in the studio. The old man excitedly comes to the conclusion that the report he received was true. He will not listen to her explanations and returns to his home, forever disowning her. Later she goes back to her native village and devotes her life and means to helping the sick and poor. While nursing a sick child, she contracts a fever and one night, in a delirium, she wanders in her nightrobe, her hair streaming in the wind, and visits the cross she erected in memory of her husband. Sinking to her knees at the feet of it, she clings to it, in remembrance of the one she loved most. In this position she reproduces a living picture of "The Rock of Ages.'' The rising waters of the ocean dash around her. She dies upon the cross, crowned with Eternal Life.—Moving Picture World synopsis