Shore Acres was left by their mother to Nathaniel and Martin Berry. Nathaniel being the older, has taken care of Martin, who was a child at the time of his mother's death, and deeded over his share of the farm to Martin, and went to join the rebellion, when he found that they both loved the same girl, and she seemed to show a preference toward Martin. On Nathaniel's return home he again took up his work on the farm, and also as custodian to what was known as Berry Light, the light house off the coast of Maine. Martin, the younger brother, a good man at heart, but easily influenced, is approached by Josiah Blake to mortgage the farm, and with the proceeds to cut it up into building lots to be used as a summer colony. The many "air castles" that he builds in Martin's mind finally gain the latter's consent. Blake also tries to win Martin's daughter Helen, better known as Nell, and Martin, thinking it advantageous to have Blake in the family, gives his consent.