Synopsis
Mary Connor is the wife of a jealous merchant seaman John Connor. One night, as she impatiently awaits his return, Mary is visited by Tom Farrell, her former sweetheart whose love she no longer reciprocates. When she hears a knock at the door, Mary panics at the possibility that her husband may have returned early and goes to hide Farrell. The visitor, however, turns out to be Isaac Perleman, a Jewish pedlar from whom she is in the process of buying a violin for her husband. As she pays off another instalment, Mary discovers that her husband, who disapproves of the Jew, is indeed coming, and she hides Perleman too. John Connor arrives and finds Perleman, but is remorseful on discovering Mary's efforts on his behalf and pays the outstanding bill. Perleman insists on taking him out for a drink out of courtesy, and Farrell seizes his opportunity to escape unseen. The play ends happily, and Mary's good name is retained.