In the little town of Owenton live the Smith, Brown and Melton families. Melton is the town banker and Brown and Smith are partners in the real estate business, but are as different in temperament and business tactics as night and day. Brown is dominant, aggressive and self-centered whereas Smith is cheerful and honorable. There is a baby expected at the home of each, and the environment in which each of the two baby boys are reared reflects in their later life as they grow up, go to school and later venture into business. Brown's son, a sneak and petty thief as a boy and later an immoral youth, loses the affection of Agnes Melton, the banker's daughter. The Smith boy, however, develops into an upright young man who makes his mark in business and wins the love of Agnes.