Mr Farelly is a coarse merchant and financier in a small Irish market town. Judy Tiffin who, knew him when he was an old clothes merchant, calls to plead for more time to pay her account but Farelly is relentless and insists on immediate payment. He is about to count her money but the electric lights fail. Judy reminds Farelly of the past and shamed by the picture she conjures, he momentarily softens and forgives her the debt only to have all his avarice restored when the lights return.