After his uncle dies, founder of the fishing village of Sandy Bay, Kenwood Wright is cut off with only some marshland while his nephew, Bruce Wilton, inherits the bulk of the estate. Wright is further enraged by the engagement of Vera Mather, whom he loves, to Bruce. Wright joins forces with Donald MacTavish, a pirate captain, and wins the affections of Bruce's sister, Alice, who becomes his victim. Vera, in an attempt to save Alice, becomes involved in the scandal, and Bruce takes back the rosary he has given her to pledge his love. Bruce barely escapes an explosion at the cannery constructed by Wright on his marshlands, and when Wright is named by Father Kelly as a conspirator, the posse sets out to capture him in a storm. He seeks refuge in the church, and when a pistol is drawn against Father Kelly, Bruce's mother receives the fatal bullet; Wright escapes and falls to his death while crossing an old bridge.