Old English plot
Sylvanus Heythorp is an elderly shipbuilder. He lets the children of his deceased son inherit. Sylvanus' sister Adela Heythorp disapproves of this because his son was an illegitimate child, but Sylvanus does not listen to her. However, Sylvanus secures his grandchildren's financial future by entering into a dubious business deal that could bring him shame and even ruin...