Carter Spencer, although coming from a religious and socially prominent family, has a wild streak and likes "playing the field", gambling and drinking. He loves Clarice Penlow, a singer in a local choir, who loves him, too, but is put off by his "wild" lifestyle. When Prohibition takes effect, Clarice wants Carter to become a Prohibition agent, thinking that having to enforce the laws that he spent much of his life breaking will change his outlook. He accedes to her wishes out of his love for her--but complications ensue.

Scheming golddigger Count Bertrand Delande is pursuing wealthy Irene Waterloo, but has already proposed to Gwendolyne Vanderbilt. Gwendolyne and her social-climbing mother find evidence that Irene is actually black--shocked by this stunning revelation, Irene travels to Europe, where she finally finds out who she really is.