Philip Durban, a wealthy iron manufacturer, marries Claire Bowdoin, the young daughter of a family of impoverished blue-bloods. Claire, who enters into matrimony only to provide for her mother's welfare, remains at first coldly indifferent to Philip, and he, in turn, remains aloof. Claire eventually comes to love Philip, but he fails to respond to any of her advances. She eventually goes abroad, where she encounters Prince Novakian, an Italian, who becomes infatuated with her. Philip learns of Novakian's amorous advances and goes to Italy, where he is challenged to a duel for taking a punch at the prince. Philip is wounded in the duel, and Novakian is slain. Under the stress and excitement of the moment, Claire casts aside her pose of indifference and rushes to her husband, tending his wounds and at long last convincing him of her love.