Vera Blaine, a young woman in the deep South, is passionate and romantic. So, she's easy prey for José Dalmarez.

Rex Radcliffe, vice president of the Northern Atlantic Railroad, is opposed by company president William Harding in his desire to put over a deal that would jeopardize the stockholders of the Interstate Railroad. Using thought control, he causes Weer, Harding's discharged secretary, to murder his ex-boss. Weer is arrested for the murder. Radcliffe then puts Harding's daughter, Helen, also under his influence. John Bonham, Interstate president, becomes interested in the case, and with the aid of Mrs. Weer he exposes Radcliffe, who then commits suicide.

In order to help her father, Lord Dartmouth, out of financial difficulties, Lady Lillian agrees to marry the wealthy Richard Garson, whose love she does not reciprocate. After a bitter scene with Richard, Lillian consents to elope with her former suitor, Hugh Paton, leaving her jewels and a letter of explanation behind.

Bill Sanford, once a first-rate railroad engineer and happy father, is victimized by bootleggers and soon becomes known as the village drunkard. His daughter, Ruth, a stenographer, is in love with her employer's son, Harry, but his father, Rand, opposes the match, though he consents to it when Sanford seems to reform.