It tells the story of a couple's courtship and marriage, and their subsequent descent into poverty and violence as the result of jealousy and greed.

His best friend, Marcus Schouler, brings his cousin, Trina Sieppe, whom he's courting, to McTeague's parlor for dental work.

The marriage takes place, and Mrs. Sieppe and the rest of Trina's family move away from San Francisco, leaving her alone with McTeague.

More than once, the two men come to grips; each time, McTeague's immense physical strength prevails, and eventually, he breaks Marcus's arm in a fight.

It becomes clear that Marcus has taken revenge on Mac before leaving by informing City Hall that he has no license or academic degree.

Their life together deteriorates, with McTeague escalating in his abuse until he steals all of Trina's domestic savings of $400 (roughly $15,000 in 2024 values) and abandons her.

Meanwhile, Trina falls entirely under the spell of money and withdraws the principal of her prior winnings in gold from her uncle's firm so she can admire and handle the coins in her room, at one point spreading them over her bed and rolling around in them.