F.W. Murnau tells the story from the play The Mud Turtle by Elliott Lester of a farmers son, Lem, who comes to the big city where he meets and falls in love with Kate, the girl of his dreams. When he brings her home to meet his parents, his father predicts disaster for the relationship because he believes Kate to be a gold digger. This fear sabotages the marriage, and Kate eventually leaves the farm, with Lem in pursuit.