Although hardly settled in Harlem or thoroughly conversant with the joys of living there, Mrs. Jarr sets the whole Jarr family agog by starting housecleaning. This is not a pleasant occupation, nor conducive to quiet and peace, as everyone knows, but the Jarrs seem to be particularly unfortunate in having things go wrong. Mr. Jarr, pushing the grand piano around, slips on the newly-scrubbed floor and nearly breaks his neck, but as if their troubles were not enough, Mrs. Jarr's mother arrives from Brooklyn to help them "get nicely settled"--with a vengeance. Mother-in-law is a brisk, vixenish woman. Trouble starts, and after a free-for-all war of words, Jarr slams on his hat and goes out, while Mrs. Jarr weeps and mother comforts her by calling Mr. Jarr a wretch and a brute. Finding people in neighboring apartments enjoying the Jarrs with the aid of opera glasses, she hangs up some of Mr. Jarr's nether garments to curtain the windows. Meanwhile, Rangle and some of his friend inveigle Jarr into participating in a turkey raffle at Gus' place on the corner. He wins the turkey, and Gus, greatly chagrined, plays a lowdown trick on him by substituting a "dummy" turkey in place of the real bird. Returning, as he thinks, with the prize, Jarr finds that his militant mother-in-law has nailed up the front door, so he climbs the fire-escape. On the way he creates havoc among the scattered debris, is shot at for a burglar and has a general hard time getting into his domicile. Proudly exhibiting his "prize" as a peace offering, Jarr is totally crushed when mother-in-law discloses the "mock turk," but Mrs. Jarr's sympathies are aroused, and her exhibition of tenderness so enrages her mother that she packs up and goes home that evening.
—Moving Picture World synopsis