Geoffrey Brooke, an African explorer, becomes a friend of Rodney Miller, a struggling young artist. Through his influence Miller becomes celebrated. Brooke is called to the Congo, leaving behind his bride of a few months. Miller is about to despair of finding a suitable model for his supreme artistic effort, a painting of Circe, the temptress, when Cleo, a bewitchingly beautiful woman enters and offers to pose for it.

Although deeply in love with his wife, Dorothy, Mr. Thomson's jealousy is aroused by her attentions to his son. Dorothy herself is unconscious of this since she is only trying to help her stepson. Things gradually go from bad to worse until one morning at breakfast Jack, the stepson, shows too plainly the effects of the "night before."

Mary is forced into shoplifting to keep up with her rich sorority sisters.