Pierre, a hardy young trapper, loves Marie, a pretty, brainless belle of the woodland, although he is sincerely loved by Gabrielle, the orphaned cousin of Marie. He and Marie are betrothed. The day of the wedding is near and Pierre is very happy. Henry Brooks, a wealthy New Yorker, arrives in the woods for a hunting trip. He meets Marie and both become fascinated. They elope. Pierre follows them, intent upon punishing Brooks, but arrives at the depot as the train bearing them speeds away. Marie and Brooks are married and he brings her to his palatial home where she is very unhappy as she knows nothing of the conventions of society. In the meantime Pierre finds consolation in the love of Gabrielle and forgets the butterfly. Marie suffers a nervous breakdown and is advised to take a trip in the north woods and leaves accompanied by her husband. Pierre and Gabrielle soon after their marriage seek a home in a remote spot and find happiness. By a strange turn of the wheel of destiny Brooks and Marie go to the distant village where they are directed for lodgings to the hut of Pierre, who pretends not to recognize Brooks. Later, Pierre returns and finds Brooks flirting with Gabrielle and proceeds to punish him, but Brooks runs away and is pursued until he falls from a cliff. Believing him dead Pierre climbs down a rope and rouses him from insensibility. Seeing he isn't seriously injured he tells the shrinking coward he can climb to the summit of the cliff himself and leaves him there deeming him too petty an object for vengeance.
Where to Watch Hearts of the Northland