As described in a film magazine, Tom Brown (Moore), a student at Harvard University, is engaged to Evelyn Ames (Daly). Her brother has become desperately involved with Marian Thorne (Winston). In an effort to protect his fiance's brother, the stigma associated with Marian Thorne's condition rests upon Tom. Evelyn breaks her engagement. Wilton Ames (Greene) crowns his borrowing of money from Tom by stealing a blank check and forging it for $300 to get Marion out of the city so that her condition may not get known. Gerald Thorne (McGrail), brother of Marian and stoke on the Harvard crew, refuses to enter the race after he is given a spurious note from his sister saying that she is leaving the city and wants to see him. Brown is put in has place and the race is won. Following the race, Gerald confronts him and charges him with being responsible for his sister's downfall. Evelyn demands that Tom marry Marian when Wilton finally confesses that he is the man involved. With Brown shown in his true light a happy reconciliation follows.
The story deals with Tom Brown's efforts to save his fiance's "black sheep" brother Wilfred Kenyon from disgrace. An unfortunate state of affairs exists between Wilfred and Marion Thorne, the sister of Gerald, who is stroking the varsity crew. The situation is misunderstood by all but Tom. Matters reach a climax on the day the big boat race between Harvard and a champion English crew. Thorne as he is about to enter the boat is given an anonymous note to the effect that Marion is about to leave town with one of the college men. He throws the race and rashes to his sister, whom he finds in possession of Tom's check for an amount to cover her expenses. The check has been forged by Wilfred. Crazed with grief and anger, he rushes back to the boathouse. In the meantime, Tom Brown, Thorne's substitute has stroked the Harvard crew to victory and he is faved by the irate Thorne who brands him as a scoundrel, producing the check to substantiate his charges. Brown remains silent preferring to be misunderstood rather than expose his loved one's brother. Wilfred congesses and wrongs are righted.