Mary Elton, a wire-walker, marries John Hammond, a lawyer and politician. After her marriage she bids farewell to the circus. After the honeymoon, Mary finds that she is a detriment to her husband s political career, and after coming upon a letter addressed to him in which he is informed that his marriage to a circus girl makes it impossible for him to receive a congressional nomination at the hands of Michael Haggerty, a prominent politician, she writes a letter to her husband informing him of her discovery. Mary returns to her old life in the circus, and receives a cordial welcome from Marsac, the head clown, and her former associates. John Hammond pursues his political ambitions and makes no effort to find his wife, not knowing that a daughter has been born to them. Mary dies in childbirth, having previously extracted a promise from the clown that he will look after her baby. Little Mary grows to womanhood and becomes the joy and pride of the circus. She makes the acquaintance of Hugh Graham, the district attorney. The district attorney and John Hammond, who has been elected governor, view the circus parade. Mary is seen coming down the street on horseback followed by the clown. After the parade the various outside attractions of a typical circus are pictorially reproduced. We see Pedro and a crowd of men gambling while Mary visits the snake-charmer and plays with the snakes. The manager objects to Pedro’s gambling and threatens to notify the police, whereupon Pedro and the other gamblers assault the manager. Instantly there arises a cry of “Hey, Rube,” and a fight ensues between the gamblers and the circus employees. Pedro pulls out a revolver and kills one of the tent men. The police arrive and the district attorney is summoned to investigate the murder. Mary tells the district attorney that she had seen Pedro fire the shot, and the murdered man is taken away in the patrol wagon, Mary and the other employees following in an auto. Pedro and his followers attack the auto, gag Mary and the district attorney, and take them to a den. Left alone, Mary and the district attorney manage to rid themselves of the ropes that bind them. Mary, being an expert wire-walker, goes to the window, and with the aid of an open umbrella, walks across the telegraph wires and climbs down a telegraph pole. After her escape from the den, Mary telephones to the police station and the captain sends policemen in an auto to the address she gives over the telephone. While the gamblers are carousing in their den, they are notified that policemen are arriving. They try to escape by running to the top of the house. The district attorney has barred the attic door with furniture to prevent the gamblers from entering. The gamblers break in the attic door and while they try to get the best of the district attorney, who is vigorously defending himself, Mary and the police arrive. Pedro manages to escape by swinging along a telegraph pole to the ground, but the other gamblers are captured. Mary takes an umbrella and goes through her remarkable wire walking act, being closely watched by the governor from a private box. Next we see Pedro entering at the back of the box. He has a knife in his hand and Mary, catching a glimpse of him from her elevated post on the wire, shouts a warning. The detective seizes Pedro and the governor is saved. Mary loses her balance in the excitement and is seriously injured by her fall. The governor sees a remarkable resemblance in her to the wife who deserted him years before, investigates, and discovers she is his daughter. Later Mary marries the district attorney.