Gerald Pruss has told Dr John Benson that his support of Mary Sothern might anger the town, not against Benson, but against Mary. Pruss has a plan to isolate Mary from her friends, so that he can more easily acquire her controlling stock in the Sanders interests, which he is holding for her imprisoned husband, Max. But Benson, anxious for Mary's welfare, told her that he must cease defending her. Then, seeing Mary's desperate need for friendship - and remembering his pledge to her husband to stand by Mary in any event - Benson decided to defy Pruss...