Hugh Eltinge, a struggling artist, and Mark Dunbar, a genius of the pen, whom the world has as yet failed to reward, live together in MacDougal Alley. Across the hall is Doris Golden, a reporter on the Evening Star, who enthuses over the work of both. Mark's novel is sold and Hugh and Doris see a new Mark. Mark begs Hugh to allow him to stake him until his pictures sell, but pleasure in his new clothes and new popularity dwindle as he sees his old friends will not profit by them. A happy idea strikes him and he buys all of Hugh's paintings on exhibition at a local dealer, requesting that his name be not mentioned.

Madge Evans, World Film Corp. juvenile star, is sent to her Quaker grandparents, Timothy and Tabitha Mendenhall, when her father and mother go to serve in World War I. After bidding farewell to the World stars, Madge goes to her grandparent's home where she experiences stern discipline.

During an attack on the Matelija Indian village, Wana, a beautiful Indian girl, is captured. Don Pablo, a Mexican gentleman, rescues Wana and places her in the care of the old Padre at San Louis Rey Mission. Two months later Wana again meets her rescuer. Romero, a half-breed, is rejected by Rubia, Don Pablo's sweetheart.

Love! What a wonderful thing is love. Cupid is a specialist in aching hearts and for sick men and maidens. Alice Linton falls in love with Percy Primrose, a young poet. Papa Linton says, "Cut out the poetry and keep the muse out of the family." He will not father-in-law a sentimental versifier. Alice is deeply smitten with Percy and she cannot be comforted, falls into a decline and looks very ill. Her father is anxious about her and hastens to see the family physician. Percy consults the doctor in advance of the father, however, and tells him all about Alice's trouble and his love for her. The old doctor is a friend of the young people and arranges to help them. When the father calls, the doctor feigns sickness and sends Percy, disguised as "Doctor Cupid," to attend the young lady's case.

Simon Watson, devoid of conscience, has become wealthy through the manufacture of "Watson's Remedy." One day he is stricken with terror when he finds a bottle of the medicine in the hands of his little child, Helen, and he warns her never to touch it. But the little one's curiosity is aroused and when her father has left for his office, she tastes the medicine and becomes violently ill. John Smith, a young workman, has a little daughter, Margaret, who is taken sick and the mother secures a bottle of the "remedy" at a drug store. Instead of relieving the child's pain, the medicine causes her to lose consciousness and when the horrified father learns the cause, he determines to seek Watson's life.

Mary and Billy are sweethearts. Mr. Stanley, the girl's father, suspects the boy of being a victim of the drug habit. Billy, in an attempt to master his craving, abstains from the drug. He is invited to dinner at his sweetheart's home. Stanley notices the boy's nervousness. He resolves to call upon him at his office and learn the truth. The next day, Billy's desire for the drug becomes so intense that the moment his employees leave the office, he brings out his hypodermic.

At the instigation of Sybel, an adventuress, Black, a society parasite, steals a valuable diamond brooch. He turns the jewel over to the adventuress, who then throws him over. Black flees from the city to escape arrest. Shortly afterward, the young man meets and falls in love with Mildred.

In leaving his boarding house to attend a New Year's celebration given by Elizabeth, his sweetheart. Lawrence loses his invitation to the affair. Elizabeth receives a valuable necklace from her father. That night, the girl promised to marry Lawrence. As Lawrence takes Elizabeth in his arms, her necklace becomes entangled in his cuff link. The boy disengages the jewel and places it on the table. Shortly afterward, both leave the room. Elizabeth misses her necklace after Lawrence has gone home. Her father suspects Lawrence of having stolen it.

Henry goes to the club after promising his wife to be home early. Falling in with a congenial crowd, he drinks not too wisely, but too well. Overflowing with good spirits, Henry leaves for home. Realizing he must square himself with his wife, the man buys a bunch of violets for her. Henry enters the house of his next-door neighbor by mistake.

Gordon, a young war correspondent, after being wounded in the jungles of Africa, is picked up and taken back to England by James Egerton, a wealthy rubber magnate, who has been investigating conditions on his plantation, where there has been a great shortage in the year's yield. On the voyage homeward the correspondent and Egerton's daughter Alice fall in love.