- Following the death of her fiance and the birth of her baby, Dorothea, to avoid even the hint of a scandal, gives the child to her best friend Martha, who has arranged to have the infant raised by her old nurse. Soon, having kept her child a secret, Dorothea marries Deacon Hunt, while Martha becomes engaged to John. When unconscionable Sell Hawkins remembers having seen Martha bring the baby to the nurse, accuses her, before the church congregation, of being an unwed mother. Dorothea remains silent, and Martha, hoping to protect her friend, refuses to tell the truth about the child. Just as Martha's guilt seems assured, however, the child is brought to the church with an injury, and when a concerned Dorothea rushes to the infant, her actions and expression betray her own secret.—Pamela Short
- Martha and Dorothea are devoted girl friends, Dorothea the weaker relying in times of trouble on Martha, who is always willing to accept the other's burdens. Thus it is that Dorothea, when the man whom she had loved so much that she had given him her all is killed in an automobile accident before he can keep his promise to marry her, goes to Martha. The two girls go away to a refuge in the country, and when a boy is born Martha accepts the responsibility for placing the baby with her old nurse and thereby saving Dorothea from disgrace. In a hotel, where Martha stays with the child, she is seen by an unscrupulous man named Sell Hawkins. Hawkins is the husband of a woman who runs a boarding house for children whose parents want to get rid of them. It happens later that the house is raided through Martha's instigation and one of the lodgers is adopted by her. Forced to find new ways to make a living Sell and his wife worm their way into the good graces of the minister of the church of which Martha is a member. Dorothea and Deacon Hunt, whose wife she now is, are also members of this church. Angered by criticism of his wife and himself, Sell declares that there are worse sinners in the church than they. He knows that Martha is innocent of the charge that he makes, but he is determined to be revenged for her activity in putting his wife's house out of business. In her trouble Martha sends for her fiancé, John. He hears her story and forces from her the information that it was Dorothea's child for whom she was seeking a home. Dorothea is deaf to his plea that she tell the truth and save Martha's reputation, and a night is set for trial of Martha before the congregation. Meanwhile Dorothea, who has brought her child to a house where she can see him frequently, orders that he be taken out of town and promises to go to an obscure park and say good-bye. At the hour when the trial is reaching a climax she endeavors to leave the church, but is halted by John, who openly charges that she and not Martha should be on trial. Weary of waiting, the old nurse and her husband had gone along in a taxicab with the boy. A speeding motor truck runs down the smaller vehicle and the boy is badly hurt. Picking him up, the old nurse runs to the church with him, arriving just as Dorothea is cringing before the loud charges of Martha's fiancé. The mother sees them as they enter the church, rushes from the platform and clasps her boy in her arms. The truth comes out and through Martha's pleading Deacon Hunt forgives his wife for keeping her secret and the congregation gives thanks that a wrong has been righted in Martha's case and that a shadow has been lifted from Dorothea.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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