His subjects have been vainly petitioning the king for improvements in his reign, without avail. The king pays too much attention to the sweetheart of a country bumpkin who shows his resentment by chasing his royal highness with a pistol and perforating the royal legs. The king takes refuge in the top of a tree, from which ignominious position he is finally rescued by his courtiers. In consideration of the bumpkin promising not to tell the queen of this latest escapade, the king grants the petition of his subjects.
Heinze is lazy, and his wife is disgusted with him. His friend, Pat, secretly admires Mrs. Heinze, and one day tells her to make Heinze help her with her work. Heinze refuses to assist her and is doused with a pail of water. Angered, he leaves the house and meets Pat, to whom he tells his troubles Pat advises him to play off dead, to see if his wife loves him.