In an Alaskan mining camp, James Leyburn runs off with his gold prospecting partner Alexander Hendrie's wife Audrie and son Frank. Caught in a blizzard, James deserts them in order to save his own life. Audrie dies, and the little boy is taken to live with his mother's half sister Monica Norton. A few years later both James and Alexander are wealthy men. Alexander meets and falls in love with Monica, neither aware of the other's identity.

Winthrop Chase is running for mayor on the prohibition ticket in a town where his irresponsible son Wint is infamous for his drunken sprees. Wint is in love with Joan Caretall, whose father Amos is a big political boss. Amos fears Winthrop's power and decides to stalemate him by substituting Wint's name on the ballot for that of his father. The morning after the election, Wint awakens from a drunken stupor and finds himself the mayor.

Oil man Hugh Stanton embarks on one of his frequent business trips and leaves his wife, Patricia, in the care of Ted and Beatrice Mason. She also spends considerable time with Victor Raymier, the artist who is painting her portrait, unaware that he is a fraud who merely signs his name to the work of a real artist in his employ. One day, Victor persuades Patricia to accompany him to his country home. A storm forces them indoors and the fake artist proceeds to make unwanted advances on Patricia. The Masons come to her rescue, and following their return to the city, Patricia telephones her husband, asking him to come home. He informs her that the proceeds from his new oil well will enable him to be a full-time husband.

Emily Ray, who works in a department store, is taken in by her wealthy Aunt Carmen. Emily falls in love with Oliver Browning, but her aunt dismisses him as a nobody and a fortune hunter. Emily's wealthy married cousin, Rosamonde Vallant, always trying to keep up with the latest fads, gives a party in honor of Professor Syle, a distinguished radical who lectures her guests in "parlor Bolshevism," then takes them to Greenwich Village to meet his comrades.

Muriel Ashley is engaged to Ferdie Walton. Ferdie's father opposes the marriage; Muriel's parents favor it. The couple are married by a strange parson who wanders into the Ashley home, then after they leave for the honeymoon, Ferdie's father discovers that the clergyman is a crook.

To support their siblings, Julien accepts "protection" from a wealthy man, inheriting his fortune but gaining an "infamous" reputation. A teacher, Max, falls for her, unaware that the real Julien died and he is actually in love with her innocent sister, Paula.

An English nobleman falls for and marries a beautiful young chorus girl. When he brings her home to the castle to meet his family, she is horrified to learn that she is niece, aunt, and/or cousin of all twenty-three of the staff of servants.

Norma Wood, a fed-up stenographer leaves her miserly fiancé, charges lavish gowns to her lecherous boss, and sets out to experience life. She is subsequently hired by a wealthy widow to seduce the woman's son away from his current girlfriend.

When Fortuna Donnelly gets a position as an usher at the Halcyon Theater, manager Eddie Lintner becomes romantically interested in her and is jealous that she prefers wealthy Englishman Owen Pauncefort.

A traveling theatrical troupe is stranded in a small town, and the leading ingenue, Polly, returns to her New York City hometown broke. She and her friend Bunny, desperate for a job, convince the Hawkers, a "nouveau riche" family from Kansas, that they are French and an experienced maid-and-butler team. Young Zeke Hawker is smitten with Polly, but Polly is attracted to their neighbor, a famous actor named MacGillicuddy. One night at a swanky party given by Mrs. Hawker, her jewels wind up stolen, and Polly is suspected of it. Complications ensue until Polly discovers who the real thieves are.

Mexico 1926. Durazo is an outlaw and a former revolutionary. He is getting at the end of the quest for a coveted treasure. His mission will be interrupted by an unexpected meeting, which will define his life.

A young African boy is rescued from a witchdoctor's death curse. He travels to the big city where a blind white man becomes his protector.