Years ago, Claudia was a fisherman's daughter who longed for the world beyond the sea. She found it through the man who came to the island and took her away. Out in the world she became a famous actress, posing for Oliver Rand, the equally famous artist. To the artist she symbolized the fishermaid, and unknown to her he painted her in that character. These memories of her past repulsed her, and she destroyed the painting and left the artist for a man of wealth. The artist, Rand, on his physician's advice, left the city and came to the island where Claudia formerly lived. Here he met Letty, Claudia's daughter, now living with her grandfather, old Max. Max was determined that Letty should not go the way of her mother. Feeling that it was in her blood, the old man tried to force her interested in young fisherman Landers, but now Rand came and Letty sought him. Rand, learning the girl's origin, tried to dissuade her. She, however, has been saving money, which she earned secretly at the fish market by selling clams. She left a note behind to the artist explaining that she had gone to his actress friend, whom she had discovered: her own mother, Claudia. The artist is resolved to save her the pain of such a meeting and follows. Mother and daughter don't know each other. The artist arrived, however, in time to take her back to her people. They suspected him, and when he came before to smooth the way, the old fisherman and Letty's young lover cornered him on the cliffs at the end of the beach. Their fancied vengeance was almost complete when Letty arrived on the scene.