Jeb Russell and his son Matt run a bootlegging operation in the basement of the New England schoolhouse where Mercy Brent teaches. When her sweetheart John Hale and his revenue agents attempt to break up the operation, John is accused of killing Jeb during a struggle. A tramp named Brent later admits to the murder, claiming that Matt was his accomplice. The police discover Matt's image imprinted on a schoolhouse window by a lightning bolt, verifying Brent's story. Meanwhile, Matt abducts Mercy and takes her aboard the bootleggers' schooner. John and his men come to her rescue and Matt is arrested.