Nowhere on earth will gossip spread on speedier wings than in a country village. Consequently, when Mary Lane, the schoolmistress, affianced to the minister, is seen carrying a child in her arms concerning which she will tell nothing, her character is soon torn to tatters. And foremost among her traducers are Mrs. Wolf, the village gossip, and her son Joe, both pillars of the church. But the child is the daughter of Sarah, a village girl whom Mary prevented from putting an end to her misery. Mary undertakes to care for the unfortunate girl's child until the mother can make arrangements to leave the village. Mary's silence concerning the child, even when questioned by her sweetheart, causes the village to ostracize her, and she finds that the school door has been closed to her. Her troubles are capped by an order to leave the house where she has been boarding. Learning of the trouble her good angel has brought upon herself, Sarah denounces Joe Wolf. The villagers urge Mary to resume her position as schoolmistress, but the minister announces that he has a better one for her, that of his wife.