Orphaned Gertrude "Gertie" Flint is rescued by lamplighter, Trueman Flint, who raises her with faith and virtue until she grows into a moral woman and finds love with a childhood friend, overcoming hardships like her blind mother's separation from her and near-fatal fire incidents, ultimately leading to happy reunions and an engagement.

After being disinherited by their wealthy father for their wild and irresponsible ways, two brothers embark on vastly different paths. One turns to crime and the other follows the straight and narrow falling in love along the way. When their paths cross again both find their lives in danger and only one will emerge safely.

Loutish Teddy Brant feeling trapped by his marriage and family commitments to the sweet Rose and their infant daughter Helen fakes his suicide and embarks on a dissolute life. Thinking herself free Rose remarries, and time passes contently. Years later, Teddy, now a hopeless derelict, wanders the country straying one night into the waiting room of a train station. He sees a young girl being accosted by an elderly gentleman who tries to entice her home. Teddy thinks nothing of the incident until he finds a purse lying on the seat and learns that the girl is his daughter Helen. Teddy hastens after them and in the ensuing fight, strangles Helen's assailant and then flees. Helen is arrested for the murder but is acquitted when Teddy staggers into the police station and confesses to the crime.

When a train crash kills Horace Barney, the heir to a fortune that his doctors and guardians were planning to extort the unscrupulous trio quickly substitute his double Jack Trevor who by chance was on the same locomotive but knocked unconscious. Once awakened, Jack realizes the duplicity but plays along to try and foil the plot and save the estate for Barney’s cousin Helen who is the true heir and with whom he has fallen in love.

Dishonored by playboy John Radon, simple country girl Stella Dean flees to the city to hide her shame. Leading a disreputable life she eventually obtains great wealth as a courtesan known as the Black Nightingale. One day she meets Milton Taylor, an artist from her hometown who knew her when she was an innocent, and he asks her to pose as his model of the Madonna. Stella agrees and feels cleansed by the experience, however when Milton discovers Stella's reputation he begins to drink and leaves her, his illusions shattered. Repentant, Stella converts her mansion into a refuge for foundlings and returns to her hometown of Pleasantville reconciling with Milton.

Queen of the serials Pearl White gets herself into plenty of trouble up Klondike way as a young maiden named Tiger's Cub.

Conchita Cordova sings in the cathedral choir in her village of San Miguelito near the Rio Grande. Millionaire oil man John Rannie, whose oil fields have displaced the peasants, desires Conchita, and when he learns that her fiance, Juan Mendoza, has been employed by Adolf Wylie, a German spy, Rannie threatens to expose Juan unless Conchita gives herself to him.

Joyous Johnson is expelled from college and finds work as a publicity agent for the Coronado Hotel. At the hotel, he falls for Marjorie Milbank, a businesswoman visiting to discuss the sale of her Texas cattle ranch with Joyous's father. Unknown to Joyous, his father desperately needs Marjorie's ranch to save his failing packing house, but she refuses to sell. Joyous must navigate his new job and his father's business crisis while trying to win Marjorie's heart.

Former Viennese orchestra leader Anton von Barwig has been searching for his daughter, taken by his ex-wife, for many years. The search has reduced him to penury since a crooked detective swindled him. One day he meets a young society girl, Helene Stanton, seeking music lessons for her fiancé, Beverly Cruger, and recognizes her as his child. Barwig finally confronts her foster father, who had run away with his wife in Vienna, who pleads with him to stay silent for his daughter’s future. He acquiesces but Helene discovers the relationship and brushes social considerations aside to be reunited with him.

A group of Canadian Royal Mounted Police officers arrive home after serving overseas with the Allied Army. After enjoying a birthday banquet for the aged Major Manners amid much singing and revelry, Inspector Turner reveals suspicions about a new recruit, John Smith, whom he knows to be using a pseudonym and whose war record contains something potentially damaging.

Unscrupulous stockbroker George Howard convinces Robert Sterling that he is having an affair with Robert’s wife Helen aided by Robert’s former flame, Rita Lawson who wants him for herself. Though Robert believes the lie, divorcing Helen and gaining custody of their child, Helen still wants nothing to do with George. Mad with desire he kidnaps her daughter and demands Helen sleep with him for the girl’s safe return. Forced into a corner, Helen agrees but once her daughter is rescued a struggle ensues with George and he is shot dead. Helen, cleared of wrongdoing reunites with Robert who has realized his folly.

Early sound short starring Lionel Atwill.