Author Noel Graham goes to the little village of Mondon, where his ancestors lived, for solitude to write. While searching for a lost puppy, Noel meets Rhona Allerton, who is visiting her guardian, Lewis Moffat, a writer in his declining years. Realizing that he needs inspiration to write a passionate romance, Moffat, with the help of old Benson, a former derelict now in his service, encourages the blossoming love affair between Rhona and Noel, while planning to destroy it later and analyze their suffering.

Ruth Rutherford, crippled as a result of being thrown from a horse, breaks her engagement to Lord Wallington. Dejected, he returns to his regiment in Egypt and sinks into dissipation. Ruth hears of his plight and also goes to Egypt, where she meets Dr. Mohammed Ali. Ali cures her lameness in return for Ruth's agreeing to become his wife, but Biskra, Ruth's servant, kills Ali before he can collect. Even from death Ali's power over Ruth returns her to her wheelchair until she jumps up to save Wallington from an attack feigned by Biskra.

Society miss Sally Raeburn is left penniless and is helped out by an older woman. The woman makes it clear that to repay her, Sally must marry wealth, so when the very well-heeled Lester comes to her village, Sally goes after him. Lester has been traveling incognito in the hopes that no one will discover him, so when Sally wins him she feels guilty and confesses that she knew who he was all along.

John Kirby is in desperate financial straits so when his wife Margaret refuses his request to help him obtain a loan from her guest, Gordon Pell, he attempts suicide and failing that becomes seriously ill. Margaret grudgingly takes in boarders mixing with people outside her social set. As her resentment grows Lucille, John's former flame, forges telegrams to drive a wedge further between them, but Gordon steps in the clear the air and the pair work through their difficulties.

Edward Campbell, known as Checkers, is a racetrack tout. Determined to reform himself, he foreswears gambling, but must take it up once more in order to save someone he loves from disaster.

A young Englishman falls in love with the children's governess in his step-sister's home. His step-sister, however, cannot abide the class differential in the romance and sabotages it. The young man, in a state of boredom and depression, begins to invite into the house anyone who happens to pass by in the street.