Mary Marsh, a stenographer, is employed by Rolf Howard, a bachelor of forty. He becomes interested in Mary as a peculiar specimen of humanity, and though at first he is only indulging in a whim, he soon comes to see the beauty of the girl's soul in its rough setting. He decides to try an experiment upon her, to endeavor to lift her to an appreciation of higher things, and gives her books. These perplex her but she has enough insight to see a glimmer of their meaning. Mary is not bad, and she has successfully resisted the advances of Tom Moran, a married man from the race tracks who is infatuated with her beauty. But Mary has a brother, Dick, who is willing to endanger her in his efforts to win Moran's friendship, with the hope of gaining tips on the races. Mary has agreed, and has strung Moran along, but with Rolf's many kindnesses, she begins to feel the pangs of conscience. She determines to give up the life of frivolity she has been leading, and instead of going to one of the frequent dances, she remains at home to read Rolf's books. In the midst of Mary's determination to be worthy of Rolf's interest, Dick rushes in, panic stricken. He has stolen a thousand dollars from Moran and has lost it on the races. Mary is filled with terror. Unknown to her, the theft was all a part of Moran's schemes. He had led the boy on to take the money, and had given him a false tip. While Mary is seeking some means of escape, Moran comes in. He threatens Dick with imprisonment unless Mary yields to him. He gives her until the next day to consider. That night Mary goes to the office and forges Rolf's name to a check for a thousand dollars, and mails it to Moran, begging him to accept it in place of herself. But Moran discovers the forgery, and now holds a greater power over the girl. He writes her, demanding that she come to him in the evening, threatening exposure if she fails. Rebelling at the very thought of Moran, Mary goes to save her brother. Rolf, concerned by Mary's absence from work, goes to her rooms, where he finds Moran's note. He follows her, and is barely in time to save her from the bully. Then Moran turns to Rolf, holding out the check, accusing the girl. Rolf takes the check, looks it over, puts on his glasses for a closer examination, then calmly tells Moran that it is his check and his signature. At the little apartment, Mary and Rolf find a note from Dick. He is going away. Then Rolf turns to Mary. "I have thrown you a life line," he says, "I only ask that in the future you be the woman God meant you to be." Later, in his office, Rolf finds a vastly different Mary. Then Rolf realizes what she really means to him. And Mary is more than willing to be "the woman God meant her to be," Rolf's wife.