Aviator Richard March, is shot down over France, though not badly hurt in the crash, he steals a kiss from Marion Weston, the Red Cross nurse whose ambulance comes to his aid. After the war, Richard resumes his professional life as an actor and meets Marion by chance at a skating party. At first she snubs him, but he soon charms her, and they become constant companions. Marion later believes that Richard is having an affair with Suzette, his leading lady, and she again turns the cold shoulder toward him. Richard writes a play based on his own experiences, and Marion comes to see she misjudged him. Connie, who is jealous of Richard's love for Marion, attempts to compromise him. Connie herself later confesses her scheme to discredit Richard, and Richard and Marion are reunited.

The Rector of a wealthy church loses the sympathy and support of parishioners when he preaches the doctrine of Christ to sacrifice worldly goods. He establishes a mission among the lower classes and, although he is beaten for his efforts, he gains happiness by doing good.

Johnny Carroll joins a gang of thieves and is arrested by Detective McQuade for picking Judge Kerrigan's pocket. However, the judge remembers Johnny from his hometown of Meadville, and persuades him to reform. The young man returns home, takes a job in a grocery store, and renews his romance with Betty Bedford. Later, Johnny's former gang arrive in town and again try to recruit him. They induce him to crack the safe in Mr. Bedford's store, threatening to reveal his criminal past if he refuses. Upon opening the safe, Johnny refuses to be a party to the crime and fights the gang. Betty hears the commotion and returns with help. After the thieves are captured, Johnny and Betty are married.

Before his daughter can formally claim her rightful title, her father dies. Now her blue-blooded American suitor finds that his father refuses to allow the two to marry as she is not a high-born lady.

Helen Meriless, a serious young girl, marries a shallow man, while Frances Lloyd, a butterfly type, marries a level-headed engineer. Both start their honeymoon on the same ship. A shipwreck causes a mix-up of the married persons; Helen and her husband remain faithful to each other, but Frances and her husband separately engage in adulterous activities. A rescue ship carries away the faithless couple, leaving the others to their fate; but the latter survive and eventually triumph.

Wealthy shipowner Lawrence Bradbury is determined to catch silk thieves who operate by means of his ships. His brother Jim, the ringleader, hoodwinks Lawrence into thinking he is a revenue officer. The skipper and a friend are suspected, but the friend proves to be the revenue man and the crooked brother is caught.

Penniless inventor Jack Saunders, in search of a girl he loves, assumes the guilt for a murder in return for $20,000 and promise of a pardon at the end of a year. When the agreement is not fulfilled, he breaks jail and appears, demanding justice, before the governor, whose daughter, Margaret, committed the crime in self-defense. Saunders prevents her forced marriage to politician Burke, and Margaret, recognizing her lost love, clears his name and is herself exonerated.

Carlos Brent's grandfather informs him that he is rightful owner of a ranch in the possession of the Hendley family. A belated letter establishes his claim, but Carlos is reluctant to evict the usurpers because he loves Carmen, Hendley's daughter. He solves his problem by abducting and marrying Carmen, thus becoming the ranch's legal owner.

Socialite Joan Higham visits the bachelor apartment of Floyd Benham and a blackmailer photographs her there. She then tries to protect her reputation and her relationship with Jerome de Witt.

Donald Keith, a young lawyer who takes up residence in the small town of Owasco, Michigan, finds himself opposed by lumber king Quartus Hembly, feared by all the townspeople. Keith takes up the case of Daniel Kersten against Hembly, who has cheated him out of his property, and during his investigation he discovers that the father of Thora Erickson, whom he loves, conspired with Hembly against Kersten, and at length he obtains a deathbed confession from Erickson.

Pearl White is a child living alone on a South Seas island after the death of her missionary father. By a stroke of luck, she becomes an heiress, and is transplanted into modern society.

An innocent country girl, Mary Ellen Ellis, moves to the city with an experienced man, Walter Benton, under the promise of marriage. Once in the city, she finds herself in a "world of crime" but reforms a burglar named Bull Clark. Clark, in turn, saves her from another criminal called "The Weasel," and repays her with his gratitude.