When John Shand (Brian Aherne) is caught breaking into their home to make use of its library, the Wylie clan offers the impoverished student a deal: marry Maggie (Helen Hayes), their spinster relation, and the family will pay for his schooling. Five years later, John wins a seat in Parliament, unaware his crafty wife is working behind the scenes to make him the man of the hour. When she's informed John intends to resign so he can get a divorce and marry his party leader's beautiful sister (Madge Evans), Maggie dreams up a scheme that could save her marriage as well as her thickheaded husband's career.