- Irresponsible young heiress Beatrix Vanderdyke creates a scandal with her indiscreet visits to artist Sutherland Yorke. To extricate herself, Beatrix claims that she was actually visiting Pelham Franklyn, who has an apartment in the same building and to whom, she states, she is secretly married. Pelham, an old friend, is dumbfounded by the news but continues the ruse for Beatrix's sake. That night, he accompanies his new bride to her bedroom, but after alarming her, announces that she is quite safe and retreats. After the marriage announcement is published in the paper, the couple is compelled to continue their deception, finally taking an enforced honeymoon cruise on Pelham's yacht. Meanwhile, Yorke has been sending anonymous letters to the family which cast doubt upon the marriage. Upon returning from his honeymoon, Pelham, who has fallen in love with his bride, discovers this and goes to Yorke's apartment, arriving just as the scoundrel has been shot by a jealous husband. Before dying, Yorke writes an apology to Beatrix. Pelham then kidnaps Beatrix, and the two are married at sea.
- Beatrix Vanderdyke is the spoiled daughter of a wealthy New York family. As a result she barely knows her mother and father, so completely occupied with social affairs that they have little to spare for their daughter. She is allowed the companionship of a more-or-less weak-willed English woman, Mrs. Keane. Another strong factor in her life is the whole-hearted devotion of her mother's sister, Aunt Honoria. Beatrix indulges in a gay little flirtation with Sutherland Yorke, a successful but unprincipled portrait painter. With a fine disregard for the conventions, she visits his studio apartment in the evenings, and her disillusionment is accomplished. Yorke, believing her to be sufficiently fascinated, attempts a passionate love scene, whereupon Beatrix, incensed at the effrontery, gathers up her wraps and sweeps from the room. A couple of days later she is summoned to a family council. Here Beatrix learns that her visits to Yorke's studio have been found out, and the family, determined to avoid even a breath of scandal, has arranged to send her west until the gossip is laid. Beatrix is aghast. Her denials make no impression. Suddenly she catches sight of Pelham Franklin in the great entrance hall, and a daring plan enters her head. Franklin is a wealthy young American whom her parents have suggested to her as a possible husband. She tells them that she has been to the apartment house, but that instead of visiting Yorke she had been in Franklin's rooms, which were directly across the hall from the painter's. Furthermore, she asserts that she has been secretly married to Franklin. She speeds across the room to meet Franklin, and put him on his guard. He is inwardly infuriated at the role he has to play. That night at bedtime he accompanies Beatrix to her room, locks the door, pockets the key, then tells her that since she has declared herself his wife she must play the game. Beatrix, horrified, puts her wits against his. He orders her maid to prepare her for bed, but by a ruse succeeds in summoning Mrs. Keane. Franklin, by sheer brute strength puts the latter out of the room, and savagely orders Beatrix into bed. Then he lashes her with scorn, and declares that she has nothing to fear from him. He quits the room, leaving Beatrix undeniably relieved, but with food for unpleasant cogitations. Franklin in the morning receives a call from his neighbor. Yorke has seen the newspaper accounts of Franklin's supposed romantic elopement with the daughter of Vanderdyke, and smarting from his rebuff at Beatrix's hands, attempts to blackmail Franklin. The latter thrashes and throws him out bodily. Yorke vows vengeance. Franklin returns to the Vanderdyke home, and seeking Beatrix out, declares that they must really be married in order to quiet the gossip. Beatrix gaily refuses, and the family later complicates the situation by suggesting that the young couple go away on Franklin's yacht for a honeymoon cruise. Unable to sidestep the issue Beatrix agrees to the arrangement, but adds to the party her chaperon, Mrs. Keane, Franklin's chum, Malcolm Fraser, and Ida Larpent. a handsome young widow in love with Franklin. Afterward Franklin takes her on a fishing trip he had planned, and little by little Beatrix begins to like his brusque masterful ways. After a short cruise they put into the little port where they had left the others. Malcolm Fraser comes aboard almost immediately with news of Mrs. Keane's serious illness, and Beatrix hurries to her side. That night she sees Ida Larpent leaving Franklin's room, and swayed by jealously knows that she is in love with the man whose life she has so recklessly invaded. Believing now that he cares nothing for her, she begins to pay in part for what she has caused others to suffer. She presents a frigid front to Franklin, but before he can force an explanation of her changed attitude a telegram arrives urging their immediate return to New York. On their arrival they find that Yorke has been busy in their absence. Anonymous letters have been received casting doubt on the authenticity of Beatrix's marriage. Beatrix is on the point of confessing the whole fraud, but Franklin springs into the breach declaring that to notice by written denial so palpable a slander would be to dignify the author. He declares that he will deal with him in a more efficient, if more brutal, way. Later he again urges Beatrix to marry him. When she questions him about Mrs. Larpent he shows her how foolish was her anger, and in the heart to heart talk that follows their love tangle is happily straightened out. In accordance with Franklin's plan they embark on the yacht again, and their marriage ceremony is performed on the high seas.
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