Finding himself penniless, Lawrence Ashmore, whose late father was ruined on the stock exchange, obtains a position as a reporter. Ashmore is assigned to investigate the reported fatal illness of Jesse Craven, one of Wall Street's financial monarchs.

In a day and age when interracial marriages were considered taboo, film star Sessue Hayakawa rarely got the girl in his pictures. The issue of prejudice is broached here -- and Hayakawa still doesn't get the girl, who in this case is society girl Marion Halstead (Doris Pawn).

True Blue begins with the marriage of black-sheep British nobleman Gilbert Brockhurst to the daughter of a Western rancher. When he learns that he has inherited his father's title and estate, Brockhurst deserts his wife and young son Bob. Upon attaining adulthood, Bob becomes the boss of his grandfather's ranch.

Story based on a Saturday Evening Post story entitled "The Painted Lady," which was written by Larry Evans. First mate Luther Smith returns to his home port to discover that his sister has died after being raped. Not long after, his mother dies from grief. Smith swears revenge and ships out on a boat manned by Sutton, "the worst captain this side o' hell". Smith doesn't realize yet that Sutton is the one who ravished his sister, but at sea, his brutalities become obvious.

In an English mining town during the 1870's, Joan Lowrie falls in love with Fergus Derrick, the new chief engineer who vows to improve working conditions. Joan's father Don, however, runs the mine and likes conditions just as they are. As a result, he quickly learns to detest the crusading Fergus, even to the point of trying to murder him.

Crooknose is a child of the slums. The slums his mother, dark alleys his father and his family is composed of the crook, the gambler, the demi-monde and the policeman. But despite these family connections Crooknose is organically a decent fellow.

O'Rourke, soldier of fortune and hero of many wars, finds himself in Paris without funds. In a spirit of recklessness, he pawns a valuable watch given him by a grateful republic for services rendered. With the proceeds he enters a prominent Parisian restaurant to dine. There he attracts the attention of the Princess de Grandlieu, her husband, the Prince, and her legal advisor, M. Adolph Chambret. While there an incident occurs which earns the hatred of her advisor, who is in love with her.

Dave and Phillip Hull, twins, are totally different in character. Dave is steady, slow to hate and true in love. Phillip, the gay and popular gambler, is perhaps more lovable on the surface, but shifty and flare-tempered underneath. Dave loves little Meg, daughter of Hardy, a cattle rustler. Dave does not know that the father is a cattle rustler, however.

The saga of Alias Jimmy Valentine began with the O. Henry story "A Retrieved Reformation". This surprise-ending tale was adapted into a stage play by Paul Armstrong, which subsequently was adapted to film several times

M'liss, raised in the mountains as an unruly tomboy, is orphaned and is offered "protection" by Calaveras John and Johnny Cake, friends of her father's murderer. She shows no interest in anything until the new schoolmaster persuades her to tidy herself and get some education. Believing the schoolmaster to be in love with some other girl, M'liss decides to run off with another man.