A beautiful story of a poor young musician who has composed an exquisite symphony. Adjoining his squalid quarters is a room occupied by a young lady of good family, but impoverished. She can hear the wonderful strains of the symphony played by the young musician and becomes first interested in the music and then in love with the composer. Together they plan to apprise the world of the genius. One evening, as a renowned musician is leaving a concert hall, after one of his great successes, the young composer throws the score of the symphony into the carriage of the great musician. Curiosity compels the musician to read the music and, at home, on his own instrument, he discovers the great work of the poor young composer. He adopts the symphony as his own and adds new laurels to his already great career. One evening at a concert at which the symphony is played the real composer rises in the audience and denounces the player, claiming the symphony as his. He is taken to prison and later put into an asylum. The young woman lover hears of his plight and intercedes with a rich aunt to secure his release. The aunt believes in the young composer and his work and conspires to show the musician who has stolen the symphony in his true colors. She invites him to a musicale in her home and requests him to play the symphony. As he is playing, the young composer, now released from the asylum, tears the score into pieces and asks the musician to now play the symphony. Of course the musician cannot and acknowledges the young pauper composer's wonderful genius.