1916
Reporter Jane Randall, who works for the Herald and Phil Norton of the Times, are competing to get the story on the Thomas Syndicate regarding when funds will be released to prevent a panic. Both head to the estate of Marsden Thomas who oversees the Syndicate. Through coercion Norton worms the info from Marsden’s son but attempts to hold up the report to do some insider trading. However, Jane with the help of her fiancé Jimmy telegraphs the Herald, gets the scoop and thwarts Nelson.
Ralph Cullom is in love with Lucy Bronson and she loves him, but her mother wants him to marry a title. Earl Twombley arrives in America on a business mission. He brings letters of introduction to Mrs. Belknap, Lucy's aunt. Lucy's mother sees an opportunity to arrange a union between Lucy and the Earl.
Driven by her ambition to become an operatic star, Elsa successfully auditions for a small role with the company performing at Carl's theater. As she becomes a celebrated performer she also falls in love with Carl while also being wooed by the wealthy but disreputable Brown. She is torn until a fire breaks out during a performance and Carl steps in to save her.
1915
An understudy to a haughty star thinks she can have whatever she wants, including the show's leading comedian. But Claude has fallen for Gaby, and when the star finds out she threatens to walk off the show unless Gaby is discharged.
The Denton's marital happiness brings home to Randall the loneliness of his own existence. Shortly afterwards, the young man meets Pearl Eltinge, a cabaret singer. Ignorant of the fact that her beauty is a mask for a shallow mind, Randall makes her his wife.
1918
Tom Brown shows up at Harvard, confident and a bit arrogant. He becomes a rival of Bob McAndrew, not only in football and rowing crew, but also for the affections of Mary Abbott, a professor's daughter.
1919
Having followed the road of romance through many countries, Lord Quex finally falls in love with Muriel Eden. After resisting Lord Quex because of his reputation, Muriel finally capitulates to his charms and agrees to marry him. In her heart, however, Muriel still treasures an affection for Caption Bastling, a fortune hunting womanizer, and when Muriel is told of Lord Quex's continuing contact with the Duchess of Dowager, a situation brought about through the scheming of the Duchess, Muriel turns to Bastling and agrees to meet him at her friend Sophie Fullgarney's manicurist shop.
1920
Henry Baird, a young newspaperman with a second-hand car but little money, decides to raffle off the car at a county picnic, so that he can take out his sweetheart, Mabel Darrow, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. However, as soon as Henry gets the money, his tailor demands that he pay off his debt. Also, youngsters set the car on fire before he can give to the winner, Joseph Plant, whose wife Evelyn was formerly Henry's sweetheart.
1926
A poor man refrains from proposing to the woman he loves until he can secure the fortune left him by his uncle. Believing the treasure awaits in his uncle's abandoned mansion, he begins searching... only to uncover mystery, murder, and a killer ape.
1911
Belle Meade is in the secret service of the Confederate army, and is assigned the task of recovering some battle plans. She penetrates the Union lines, but comes under suspicion of Col. Cuthbert's plantation, who is a loyal southerner. The colonel conceals her in the house. The Union general takes possession of Cuthbert's house, and a courier enters with the plans. She slays the courier and hides in the stables. Col. Cuthbert is accused of the act, and is sentenced to death.
1917
Nora Helmer has years earlier committed a forgery in order to save the life of her authoritarian husband Torvald. Now she is being blackmailed lives in fear of her husband's finding out and of the shame such a revelation would bring to his career.
Having been misinformed that all French girls are morally suspect, American soldier David Kendall (Edwin August) is in for quite a shock when he's shipped Over There. After meeting several "nice" Frenchwomen, David returns to the states with a whole new perspective on things. It isn't long before he falls in love with Nenette (Carmel Myers), the daughter of French-born restaurateur Armande Bisson (Andrew Robson). But when Nenette is implicated in a murder, the disillusioned David instantly repudiates her -- and by extension, all Daughters of France.
