- On the promise of marriage, Sylvia Smith, a simple girl from Lone Meadows, follows her lover to the city only to discover that he already has a wife. While wandering along the docks, Sylvia stumbles onto a suicide note written by Fitzhugh Castleton, a wealthy gentleman who has planted the note to avoid a loveless marriage. Rather than go back to Lone Meadows humiliated, Sylvia pays Crosby, a convicted forger, to impersonate Castleton, forge his name in a marriage ceremony, then disappear. Once Sylvia installs herself in the Castleton mansion, Castleton returns from a sea voyage and, disguised by a long beard, hires on as the gardener. Castleton soon becomes enamored of the impostor widow and she falls in love with him, but neither one will admit his deception to the other. When Crosby shows up and demands blackmail money, Sylvia slips away to the country. Through the jealous interference of Crosby's wife, Castleton discovers the truth about Sylvia and goes to Lone Meadows to marry her.
- Sylvia Smith, who believes all she reads in novels, has drawn in her imagination an ideal man. Not finding his counterpart in the country, she accompanies a city fellow to New York. Fitzhugh Castleton, wealthy, is tired of his lot. His fiancée, Lydia Van Dusen, loves sports more than she does Fitzhugh. The night before their wedding Fitzhugh is insulted by Bobs, a sailor, and his manhood aroused, proceeds to wipe up the street with him. With new respect Bobs extends his hand and a friendship springs up between the two. To avoid a loveless marriage, Fitzhugh goes away with Bobs. On the pier he leaves his coat, in which is a letter asking the finder to notify his attorney of his death. In New York, Sylvia is astonished when a brood of children and a wife come to greet her Romeo. Unwilling to acknowledge defeat, she wanders about and reaches the pier. Finding Castleton's coat she formulates a plan, She asks Crosby, whom she finds on a park bench, to marry her under the name of Fitzhugh Castleton. Showing him the signature of Fitzhugh Castleton, Sylvia has his assurance he can forge that handwriting to perfection. Sylvia presents herself to Castleton's attorney. Crosby is arrested on an old forgery charge. After verifying her claims, Fitzhugh's attorney advises Sylvia she may draw on him for necessary funds until her late husband's will is to be opened. Later, established in the Castleton home, Sylvia is happy. Returning from Australia, Castleton and Bobs go to the Castleton home and, peering through the window, see a beautiful girl. After convincing the butler he is Fitzhugh Castleton, he asks who the lady is. He is told she is Fitzhugh's wife. Fitzhugh swears the butler to secrecy, and becomes the gardener. Fitzhugh has learned to love Sylvia, but finds it difficult to reveal his identity without branding her as an impostor. Sylvia insists on riding a certain spirited horse, though the groom warns her that only the master could ride him. He runs to tell Fitzhugh, who follows. She is stunned by a fall and finds herself in Fitzhugh's arms. Crosby, released from prison, reads of the entertainment given by the widow of Fitzhugh Castleton and recalls his marriage to Sylvia. He calls and she is obliged to give him money. Sylvia realizes the falseness of her position. Though believing Fitzhugh a gardener, she would be willing to marry him, but cannot bring herself to confess her duplicity. Fitzhugh realizes unless he obtains his will from the safe he will be compelled to reveal his identity to save his estate from his aunts, who are the beneficiaries. Sylvia comes upon him tampering with the safe and, believing him a thief, is heartbroken. But loving him, she forgives. Crosby comes for more money. When Fitzhugh interferes, Crosby announces that Sylvia is his wife. Put out of the house, Crosby threatens to return. Hoping to be freed of the complications that have arisen, Sylvia returns to Lone Meadows. The attorney, coming to arrange the settlement of the will, is startled to find Fitzhugh alive. Crosby threatens to start a scandal unless he is paid for his silence. Delia, his wife, believing he loves Sylvia, follows him and tells Fitzhugh Sylvia had given Crosby money to marry her under the name of Fitzhugh Castleton. The shadow of doubt concerning Sylvia's marriage cleared away, Fitzhugh resumes his position and goes to Lone Meadows. Despite his changed appearance, Sylvia recognizes him and rushes into his arms.
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