John Howard, incapable of working the farm on account of heart trouble, is unable to forestall the mortgage foreclosure. His son, a dissipated youth, quarrels with his father and goes to New York. The excitement hastens the father’s death and Lois, Will’s sister, is left alone and without money. Madge Lewis, a friend of Lois, now in the theatrical business, persuades her to come to New York, and aids Lois in securing a position in the department store of S. Homer Halsey. Halsey is attracted by Lois’s beauty and induces Lois to dine with him, and a private room is selected. Lois’s suspicions are realized and after angrily resenting his offered insults, she is told she is no longer required at the store. Will’s course in New York is downward. He visits a cheap gambling house and wins. His luck persuades him to be a frequent visitor at the gambling house. Successful for a time, he leads a riotous life on the proceeds, but his luck turns and the raiding of the gambling house finds him completely down and out and a lounger in the corner saloons. With Madge’s introduction Lois secures a position as chorus girl in a big vaudeville act. Jack Wharton, a friend of the manager, on meeting Lois, falls in love with her. The star is seriously injured and the newspapers, while relating the fact, comment favorably on Lois’s performance of the star part. Will, thus learning of Lois’s success, asks her for money. One night Lois is called to go on the stage and leaves Will in her dressing-room slightly intoxicated. Will overturns an alcohol lamp; it is the cause of a fire which starts a panic in the audience and incidentally lays him up for weeks. Jack’s father, urged by Jack’s sister, Mary, decides to test the character of Lois. As a result, Lois, realizing the difference in their social position and thinking Jack’s father objects to her, refuses to see Jack again. Lois, however, not only meets the test but wins the father’s complete approbation, and subsequently Jack and Lois are married. Returning from their honeymoon Lois learns of Halsey’s engagement to Mary. Halsey, still attracted by Lois’s beauty, attempts to flirt. After several rebuffs and a particularly stinging rebuke, he determines to humiliate her. Will, in trouble again, this time for using money of the firm with which Jack has placed him, comes to Lois. Not wishing to see Jack, he hides in Lois’s closet as he enters the room. Upon their leaving the room Halsey sneaks in and conceals a necklace of Mary’s which he has obtained, in Lois’s dresser. Its loss immediately being discovered, Halsey easily turns suspicion on Lois. Will, from the closet, however, seeing Halsey act and divining his base motive, takes the necklace and realizing that his word would not be sufficient to clear his sister, cleverly causes the necklace to be found in Halsey’s possession. Discomfited and confused, Halsey is discredited and dismissed from the house, leaving Lois still in possession of the love and trust of her husband and her new friends. The spark of manhood has been kindled in Will.