Doctor Thorne's niece Mary is in love with Frank, the heir to an affluent family. However, Frank's mother does not want her son to marry her.

It is election day, and while Sir Roger Scatcherd wins the respect of the voters, he succumbs to ill health at the hustings. Doctor Thorne does his best to ease the pain of the cantankerous old man, but he senses the end is near.

While Frank and Mary plan their upcoming nuptials, Lady Arabella determines not to give up without a fight. She manages to persuade Mary that marrying Frank would be a selfish act, and that if she truly loves him she should set him free.