Sir John Vesey, his wife and daughter Georgina fawn on old Mordaunt, Sir John's brother-in-law, who is rich. So does his cousin, Sir Frederick. Only Alfred, Evelyn and Clara, poor relations, love the old man for himself. Dying, he leaves his fortune to Alfred. The Veseys scheme to estrange him from Clara, whom he loves, and marry him to Georgina. He once waited on them as a servant to earn money for his foster mother. Now they toady to him. He overhears Sir Frederick say that Georgina only wants his money, and pretends to lose his entire fortune at cards to a friend. At the height of the misfortune, police officers arrive to arrest him for assault on Sir Frederick. Georgina disdains him, but Clara, to whom he has sent a large sum as a legacy from old Mordaunt, offers him the money again. He then reveals the trick and clasps Clara in his arms.