Maurice Tourneur's first American made film is a silent drama about a mother's love and sacrifice starring Emma Dunn, who also starred in the 1910 Broadway play version of the story.

Elinor Chalmers, head saleslady in a department store, loves architect Harry Edmonds. They marry in haste but keep their union secret due to the store’s policy of dismissal of married women. Harry is offered a substantial commission by wealthy businessman Henry Allison for a new home and meets his daughter Alice. The couple still living apart attract new suitors, Alice for Harry and Gardner, the store’s floorwalker for Elinor. Elinor calls at Harry’s office and tells Harry that their baby will soon arrive. Harry ignores her but Gardner is still in love with Elinor, and she realizes she cares for him. Harry is injured in an accident, calls for Elinor and begs forgiveness before he dies. After her mourning period Gardner proposes to Elinor and they marry.

US secret service agent Mr. Grimm is hot on the trail of spy Rosa Morini and her brother Prince Morini who are planning to sell a remote-control wireless bomb apparatus which if it falls into the wrong hands will make its possessor the master of the world's power. Rosa manages to elude capture at first but after the death of her brother sees the error of her ways and a crisis is averted.

Ruined by Charles Wainwright, George Garrison commits suicide but begs his son Henry to avenge him before expiring. Henry goes West makes a fortune, then returns to New York. Assuming the name of Henry Thompson he becomes Wainwright's protégé and through his machinations is elected mayor of New York. For his support Wainwright wants a franchise binding the city to the financier's railway, but Henry refuses. Attempting to frame Henry on an old murder charge fails when the “victim,” Henry's partner Joe Standing shows up. Finally, Henry confronts Wainwright exposing his evil deeds. Wainwright’s daughter, Dallas, proclaims her love for Henry.

Harry Horton, a spoiled son of a bookie, is prone to gambling and allows a weak character to influence him. His beloved father looks upon his son's character with more pity than anger in his heart. Harry mingles with a crowd of gamblers and loses money. Finally, in a big game, he loses every cent, and when he draws a check the bank tells him that there are no funds.

Two foreign spies are commissioned by their government to secure at all costs a secret treaty which is in the possession of the Ambassador of Venezuela.

Moran, blind to ambition, has been a long-time friend of the widow Casey. In his own way Moran likes the widow, but his strongest affection is for her young son. The boy, in turn, loves the man's friendship and the knife the man has given him. The time comes when the widow and Moran fight.

A character actress is struggling with age and the desire to save money while observing the manager's inappropriate advances towards the leading actress. She ultimately steps in to protect the young actress from her former husband's clutches.

Paul La Blanc graduates from the seminary with high honors with plans to enter the priesthood, a much-desired outcome for his parents. But when he meets one of the local parishioners Rose Miqueleon, they are mutually attracted. An amateur artist Paul paints a picture of the Madonna, with Rose as the subject. When the portrait is seen gossip spreads and his parents are enraged at the thought, he might abandon the church. Events reach a danger point until Paul’s father sees the young pair in the moonlight and realizes the inevitability of events.

Dr. Alexander is dedicated to his young wife Isabel, but she craves a more exciting life and the company of younger people. This creates a rift between them with Isabel becoming increasingly distant. At a social gathering, she meets the artist Jack Welby and is drawn to him. As their relationship deepens, she considers eloping with him.