After Jim Barston is mysteriously killed in Australia, his wife, Helen, lays claim to the estate of Gerald Mortimer Barston in England, asserting that her husband was the missing son and heir. In reality, Jim was the cousin of the true heir, who is also named Jim Barston. Despite having no legal proof, Helen convinces the trustees to accept her claim and is installed as mistress of the manor. Jim Barston appears and proves his identity, although Helen initially believes him to be an impostor.

Bob Stafford, the wastrel son of a wealthy businessman, is disowned by his father for his reckless and irresponsible ways. He changes his name and opens a gym for wealthy young girls, hoping to land a rich and pretty wife. He meets and falls for pretty young Eileen, but a rival soon drives him out of the gym business. He gets a job in an airplane factory owned by Eileen's father, who is soon told by a rival that Bob is really out to steal a new airplane invention so he can give it to his father.

Two sisters from Indiana, the wide-eyed and innocent Mae Thorpe, and her more streetwise sister June, move into the Rolf House for Homeless Girls in New York. With June's help, Mae obtains a job as a stenographer for the scientist Joseph von Schraeder, while June gets work as a telegraph operator at Western Union.

Tom Devon, alias Reginald Briand, is the mastermind behind an organization of gentlemen thieves, including Jimmy Stevens and Rudolph Gambier. Jimmy falls in love with Tom's innocent daughter, Gloria, after he rescues her from an embarrassing scene in a restaurant. Tom disapproves of the romance and decides to dissolve the partnership. When an embittered Rudolph kills Tom he frames Jimmy, but Gloria is determined to clear him. Posing as a thief, she seeks the truth.

A young man bets $10,000 that he can go for 24 hours without lying.

A society woman wrongly -- and very publicly -- accused of infidelity is dropped by her friends, spurned by her husband, and faced with the loss of her child.

The mortgage of an elderly couple is about to be foreclosed, but their daughter vows to get a job in the big city, where her virtue is preserved through the efforts of the handsome hero.