Athletic star William Russell puts on his boxing gloves for this waterfront drama.

Percival Cadwallader Perkins was so bashful that whenever a woman would look at him he would blush like a beet, and this brought the "Happy Family," the cowboys of the Flying U, to calling him "Pink."

When Gilbert Warren discovers his law partner Arthur Fenton making crooked deals, he severs their relationship and opens an office of his own. Louise Talcott, daughter of Colonel Talcott, is loved by both. She favors Warren. Out of jealousy, when Warren leaves town, Fenton schemes to blacken his name. Warren is appointed to vet the street railway franchise. When Fenton hears of this, he reports to Colonel Talcott and the Mayor that Warren is a grafter. The Colonel floats a deal to test Warren and finds him honest. Later, the Colonel and the Mayor apologize to Warren as he embraces Louise.

Miriam, daughter of wealthy politician John Barker is engaged to reporter George Prescott. Prescott is assigned to expose gambling conditions and discovers Barker is a grafter. Miriam doesn’t believe Prescott and breaks the engagement only to fall victim to gambling fever. When she is arrested in a raid on a gaming house her father sees the error of his ways and becomes a reform candidate of the "Clean-up" party. He wins and George and Miriam reunite.

Fred Rees proposes to Edith Shanlon, contingent on her mother's approval, which is initially denied due to the mother's desire for a wealthy match. A dream reveals the potential unhappiness of such a marriage when Edith's mother envisions Edith married to a wealthy man who neglects her. The dream, filled with infidelity and public humiliation, convinces the mother that a loveless, wealthy marriage is not worth it. Upon waking, she happily grants her consent to Fred and Edith's union.

After his brother's death, Arnold Downs, to save the reputation of his brother's sweetheart, Clara Myers, marries her, though he is in love with Sada Block, his employer's daughter. Five years later finds Arnold in business for himself and Block's competitor. The father of the girl never has been able to forgive the young man for giving up his daughter for Clara, and by bribing Arnold's bookkeeper he takes his revenge in driving Downs to the verge of bankruptcy. Clara's child, who is an adept at picture puzzles, takes some torn papers from the waste basket, matches them and shows them to her mother. Clara sees by them how her husband has been underbid by Block. That night she and her father, disguised as robbers, enter Arnold's office and take the traitorous bookkeeper prisoner. They present the evidence to Arnold who is saved from failure, and husband and wife discover that they have come to love one another.

Ralph Cullom is in love with Lucy Bronson and she loves him, but her mother wants him to marry a title. Earl Twombley arrives in America on a business mission. He brings letters of introduction to Mrs. Belknap, Lucy's aunt. Lucy's mother sees an opportunity to arrange a union between Lucy and the Earl.