Helen Rowland

Wealthy young Herbert Alden, a would-be detective, is practicing housebreaking with his valet, an ex-convict, when he meets George and Polly, two real thieves; they are discovered and, following a chase, they go to Herbert's city apartment. George arranges with one of them, Tony-the-Lizard, to rob the guests at a ball given by Herbert's father at his country home. Herbert discovers that Tony is Tracy Sutton, a social lion engaged to Herbert's sister Roberta; and believing Herbert to be a famous criminal, Tony seeks his advice.

A policeman falls for a teacher, and befriends her students. A gang of bootleggers threatens his newfound joys.

Orphaned as children, David and his sister are sent to live with separate families, where both are abused, and his sister dies. Filled with hostility, David now an adult, goes on a mission to seek vengeance on the adopting family.

Jacqueline Roland, the daughter of a backwoodsman, meets Henri Dubois during a visit to the city, but is unresponsive to his attentions. Henri later takes charge of the lumber camp where Jacqueline lives, and is closely followed by Li Chang, who is blackmailing him to keep secret a murder he committed years earlier. The new boss is determined to win Jacqueline for himself and convinces her lover, Raoul Radon, that she no longer cares for him. When Li Chang kidnaps Jacqueline, Henri comes to claim her and an oil lamp is upset during the ensuing struggle. As the fire spreads into the forest, Jacqueline escapes with Li Ching in pursuit. She and Raoul are reunited, while Henri perishes in the blaze.

Disowned by her family for marrying beneath her class, Alice Larkin lives in a modest home with her husband, John, and their children. Meanwhile, wealthy Ethel Lewis is separated from her husband, Robert, because she refuses to have children. On Ethel's behalf, a lawyer offers Alice $50,000 in exchange for the adoption of her youngest child, Louise. After Alice reluctantly accepts, Ethel presents the child to Robert as their own. Alice visits the Lewis home frequently, rekindling Robert's long-dormant romantic feelings for her. John is consumed with jealousy and attempts to shoot Robert, but accidentally hits Louise. Alice then awakens to find that it was a horrible dream. She refuses the lawyer's offer just as her Aunt Martha enters with apologies and Christmas presents.

Timothy and Gay, orphans from the slums of Boston, escape to Maine in search of a home and manage to thaw Avilda's embittered, grief-stricken heart. A charming pastoral about two unwanted children finding acceptance and love.

Men try to understand the women in their lives.