AyounggirlbythenameofJohnsyhasfallenillandisdyingofpneumonia.Shewatchestheleavesfallfromavineoutsidethewindowofherroom,anddecidesthatwhenthelastleafdrops,shetoowill"drop,"anddie.WhileSuetriestotellhertostopthinkinglikethat,Johnsyisdeterminedtodiewhenthelastleaffalls. 　　AnoldFrenchman,namedBehrman,isanartist(andaverybadonetoo)wholivesnearbyandisSue'stutor,andwhohasbeenclaimingthathewillpaintamasterpiece,eventhoughhehasneverevenattemptedtostart.Suegoestohim,andtellshimthathersisterisdyingofpneumonia,andthatJohnsyclaimsthatwhenthelastleaffallsoffofavineoutsideherwindow,shewilldie.Behrmanscoffsatthisasfoolishness,butdecidestoseeJohnsyandthevine. 　　Inthenight,averybadstormcomesandwindishowlingandrainissplatteringagainstthewindow.SueclosesthecurtainsandtellsJohnsytogotosleep,eventhoughtherewerestillfourleavesleftonthevine.JohnsyprotestsbutSueinsistsondoingsobecausedoesn'twantJohnsytoseethelastleaffall.Inthemorning,Johnsywantstoseethevine,tobesurethatalltheleavesaregone,buttotheirsurprise,thereisstilloneleafleft. 　　WhileJohnsyissurprisedthatitisstillthere,sheinsistsitwillfallthatday.Butitdoesn't,nordoesitfallthroughthenightnorthenextday.Johnsybelievesthattheleafstayedtheretoshowhowwickedshewas,andthatshesinnedinwantingtodie.Sheregainsherwilltolive,andmakesafullrecoverythroughouttheday. 　　Intheafternoon,adoctorcomesandtalkstoSue.ThedoctorsaysthatMr.Behrmanhaddiedofpneumoniaanhourago,andthathewasillonly2days.Ajanitorhadfoundhimhelplesswithpain,andhisshoesandclothingwerewetandicycold.Thejanitorcouldn'tfigureoutwherehehadbeenonthatstormynight,thoughshehadfoundalanternthatwasstilllit,aladderthathadbeenmoved,somescatteredbrushes,andapalettewithgreenandyellowcolorsmixedonit."LookoutthewindowSue,doyouseethatlastivyleaf?Darling,thatwasBehrman'smasterpiece-hepaintedittherethenightthatthelastleaffell."