Mary O`Brien, daughter of an Irish gentleman of declining fortunes, while fishing, meets Ernest Randal, who is trespassing on her father`s land. Randal is the son of an English baronet and his conversation so charms Mary that she invites him to dinner. The next day, while out hunting deer with her father, a poacher mistakes Randal`s peaked cap for a deer`s antlers, and shoots him through the shoulder. Mary nurses Randal, who is taken to her home. They fall in love and Mary gives her heart to him without reserve, and it is with difficulty that he forces himself to leave to complete his course in surgery. Norah, the old family servant, suspects the truth. Mary confesses to her father, and with difficulty restrains him from taking her lover`s life when he returns after completing his college course. At first, Randal says he cannot marry her at that time, and she defends him.