Hen Blaine is a ruthless cattle trader who got rich by preying on the poor and desperate. One day, as he sits with his family around the fire, pridefully recounting his many successes, he asks his wife what she thinks of his career. She says that she doesn't approve. Any wealth gained by exploiting the poor with no choice but to sell cattle for low prices cannot be morally right. She believes Hen Blaine is too prideful, and will experience a fall. The next morning, Blaine and his son discover what appears to be a homeless man sleeping in their haystack. The man says he's truly rich and owns many head of cattle, which Blaine laughs at him for. The man asks Blaine if he could step into his house for a moment and clean up. Blaine refuses, calling him names and saying he'd never allow a man like that into his home. Blaine's son tries to intervene, but Blaine ignores him. The man asks to see Blaine's cattle, and the trader reluctantly agrees. Blaine admits he's considered selling the herd, but nobody has promised him enough money - they've only given him an offer of $6000, and he believes the cows are worth more. The haystack man tells Blaine he'd pay $3500 in cash on the spot if Blaine would sell them to him. Laughing, Blaine agrees to the deal, saying the haystack man will never produce such money. Surprisingly, his guest cuts open one of the ragged patches of his pants and procures $3500. He tells Blaine that he's actually a ruthless cattle trader from a nearby farm who tricked Blaine into believing him to be homeless, knowing Blaine's pride would ensure he agreed to a terrible deal. Without further ado, the haystack man begins herding the hundreds of cattle to his own farm.