The synopsis provided by the studio in The Moving Picture World was:[4]Lear, King of Britain, worn out with the affairs of state, calls his three daughters before to make a division of his kingdom in proportion with the degree of their affection for him.

Goneril, the eldest, speaks first and her father with pleased vanity hears her declare that all powers of speech fail to express the extent of her love for him.

Cordelia, the youngest daughter, disgusted with her sisters' sordid insincerities, replies that she loves him as far as duty commands.

Eventually the daughters who have the kingdom in their hands close the castle doors on their father, and Lear learns "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child."

To Lear is borne her body which proves the last ill wind to fan out the flame of his flickering life and the tortured soul soon follows hers to "that undiscovered country from whom bourne no traveler ever returns.