In Maine, a girl masquerades as a boy during the day after her mother is killed by an unknown assailant.

When noted scientist John Vandam dies in the Orient, he leaves the guardianship of his eighteen-year-old daughter to his old friend Sandy Verrall. Sandy believes that Eliza is a little girl and so prepares for the arrival of a child. Displeased with the situation, Eliza decides to dress and act like a kid so that Sandy will tire of her and send her away.

Martin co-owns a farm and its lighthouse on the rocky coast. Banker Josiah induces him to speculate in oil where he loses everything but the banker is willing to forget Martin’s debt in exchange for the latter’s daughter in marriage.