An author's wife threatens to send him out to work unless he sells a story. Finding a publisher who will accept only true stories, the author proceeds to unravel his own past: As a notorious criminal, with his wife as accomplice, he commits robberies, is pursued and captured, escapes, and eventually reforms. Excited by the story, the publisher prepares to buy it. Overcome by his success, the author announces that his wife had been a much "dirtier crook" than himself, and he is about to reveal the details of her life when she overhears him and spoils the scene.

Doris Matthews, a beautiful, innocent young girl, forsakes her sweetheart, Joel Barlowe, in favor of Victor Brant, a wealthy roué. On the night before they are to elope, an old sailor gives Brant a strange potion to drink and then unfolds before his eyes "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Deeply touched by this story about the consequences of the wanton destruction of innocent beauty, Brant leaves without Doris. After some time, he returns and finds to his pained satisfaction that Doris, having overcome her infatuation for him, has again turned her tender attentions toward Joel.

Jeanne Baldwin, Leonard Staunton, Alan Fitzhugh and Jack Baldwin are guided on a tour of underground dens in Chinatown by Hop Lee. During their trip, Wang Foo abducts Jeanne, and she and her companions are rescued through the intervention of private detective Frank Condon. Three months later, Fitzhugh is missing, supposedly murdered by the Chinese. Jack Baldwin is threatened, poisoned and his body disappears. Next, a threat against Jeanne is received by Staunton. To save her life, he is to meet the blackmailers at a bay in the harbor. Enlisting the aid of a submarine, Staunton captures the three conspirators, who turn out to be the missing victims in the case, led by Condon. The three had planned the escapade to extort money from Staunton. The mystery thus resolved, Staunton and Jeanne are married. A lost film.

Yale graduate, Yale Durant, facing financial ruin and contemplating suicide, discovers his fiancée's father is also facing ruin; he tries to save them but ends up in a perilous situation, getting caught up in a family feud and a rival's plot.

Loring, an author, in getting material for a book, goes to a gambling den. He sees Wilbur, who acts strangely. He follows him and when Wilbur is killed, Peter Charles, father of Beatrice Charles, is accused of the murder. The gambler gives him a fictitious story about a murderous gang when Loring attempts to solve the murder mystery. Several attempts are made on his life by the gang but fail. The gambler proves to be Beatrice’s villainous fiancee, and when he confesses the murder Loring wins the young woman.

Though loved by many in her Norwegian village home, Thelma herself does not know love until she meets Sir Phillip Errington. They are married and go to London, where she is well received except by Phillip's jealous "friends." Lady Clara and Lennox plot to make Phillip appear to be unfaithful, and Thelma returns to Norway. Phillip, however, pursues her and proves his innocence.

While Jane and Jim Parker witness the divorce proceedings of Jane's parents, the George Reeds, they resolve that such a disaster will never occur in their happy lives. But when Jim achieves success in Reed's company, he becomes increasingly interested in his new fast friends, especially vamp Gloria Gayne; and he asks Jane for a divorce.

After being released from imprisonment for a crime committed by her sister, Violet is forced to become a woman of easy virtue, and on an excursion to a South Sea isle she meets Luther Smith, a sailor seeking vengeance for the death of his sister. She feels unworthy of his love, but their paths cross again when he rescues her from Captain Sutton, the man responsible for the other girl's tragedy. This film is lost.

Virginia Tremont, her guardian Kenly Lounsbury, and their guide Bill Bronson set out for the Northwest in search of her fiancé, Harold Lounsbury. After being left by Kenly without horses, Virginia and Bill find Harold living as a Native American. Her affections are transferred to Bill when he twice rescues her from danger and when Harold is revealed to be worthless.