Plot

Daisy Crane, the village good-for-nothin' and town charge, is farmed out for her keep to Mrs. Gray. Mischievous and eternally at war with the rest of the children, Daisy is a burden to the townspeople and particularly to the schoolmarm. After a stormy episode at school, the board decides to employ a male teacher and engages Robert Manning, a man of deep understanding. He is instructed not to spare the rod, and special attention is directed to Daisy, His handling of the good-for-nothin' seems to awaken a new spirit in the girl and soon she realizes that Manning is a friend. In his determination to develop what good there is in the girl, he gives her his undivided attention outside of school hours, all of which affords the busy-bodies of the community food for scandal. The gradual taming of Daisy becomes obvious and a deep friendship springs up between the child and the school master. One day Daisy sees Manning walking with two other girl pupils of the class and she becomes jealous. Her childish attitude at viewing the situation causes her to run away and brood. In the meantime, Mrs. Gray institutes a search for her and the scandal mongers of the town and the school board suggest that Daisy could be found at Manning's home. Unable to control her jealousy, Daisy at last decides that she will return a little book of poems that the schoolmaster gave her as a present. She goes to his home and as she is about to enter she sees the school board coming toward the house. Fearing them she secludes herself close by. Manning receives the members of the school board and invites them to enter his home. While they are inside, Daisy gains an entrance to the place and hides in a closet in another room. The board members tell of Daisy's disappearance and almost openly accuse the schoolmaster of having her in hiding in his place. He therefore invites them to make a search. This startles Daisy and she runs for the window to escape, but in doing so attracts attention by the noise she makes. Manning is astonished. The deductions are inevitable. Manning cannot explain and Daisy will not. Realizing he must act quickly, Manning announces Daisy as his future wife stating he will marry her on the morrow. The members of the board leave the house and stand gossiping outside, one urging that Manning be informed of the origin of the child. Manning escorts Daisy to her home and as he arrives he is confronted by Silas Hodges and others who tell him of the Brat's life. Daisy steals away and Manning finds only traces of her at the lake.—Moving Picture World synopsis