Marie and her friend Billy are playing pirates and Marie is the pirate and Billy is her assistant. Marie's widowed mother becomes engaged to Mr. Cross , whom Marie doesn't like -- she much prefers Jack Laird, a secret service man. Laird's investigation of opium smugglers leads him to suspect that Cross is involved, but Marie's mother refuses to let him be searched.

Archie Sheldon, determining to go to New York City, is given a letter by his mother to Thatcher Thole, Gotham's most unscrupulous financier. She tells her son that Thole is an old friend of the family, and will undoubtedly give him a start in life.

When Jasper Leigh calls on Professor Hunt to ask for his daughter, Mary's, hand in marriage, the Professor tells him that the girl is too young. He also tells Jasper that Mary believes her mother dead, but that she had eloped with another man. Leigh encounters a ragged and worn woman, who proves to be Mary's mother.

Joe Grant is the renegade husband of Lengua, a beautiful South African native girl. John Lewis is a South American trader, living with his daughter Grace. Ned Singleton helps Lewis in his work. Grant steals from Lewis' trading post and orders the abused Lengua to aid him in secreting the loot, and she refuses. She tells Lewis of Grant's misdeeds.

Nadia, a stenographer, must give her meager earnings to her drunken father. When he shoots his wife's lover, Nadia decides to move in with her flashy girl friend Mabel, who soon introduces her to the fast life.

Rupert returns to his Canadian home after five years, an officer of the Royal Mounted Police, under orders to capture some illicit distillers. Jacques, an invalid, being unable to make farming pay, has, unknown to his sister, Philomel, been induced by Antoine, a suitor for the hand of Philomel, to join him in the illicit whiskey traffic.

Hamad, an Arab half-breed, is in command of the ivory traders. Allan Deane is sent to take charge of the ivory traders' camp, and Hamad is told that he can serve as assistant hereafter. Allan Deane and Naila love each other. She informs Allan that Hamad is a slave trader and sells the native men and women like beasts.

Henry Ranson, a soldier, returns home and finds his sweetheart is going to marry another man. He seeks consolation from General Craddock, a retired army officer. Craddock tells, young Ranson his story. General Craddock, years before in India, was very happy with his wife. Captain Alva stole the woman's affections.

Farmer Allen Golyer finds his romance with his naïve sweetheart Susie usurped by Bertie Leon, a traveling salesman. Leon's slick, citified ways win the girl's heart and she leaves Golyer for him . Just then Golyer's friend, Colonel Blood, shows up with a sapling which he presents to him. Leon meanwhile leaves the little country village and is never heard from again. Susie, believing that he was fickle, agrees to marry Golyer. For the next 20 years they are happy, until Golyer goes to a seer.

Christine, known as Tiny, whose mother eloped with a circus clown and became a parachutist, spends most of her time with her lame dog and an elephant.

Elbert Carey, a trapper of wild animals, seeing the admiration of Dais, a native servant, for a jaguar, indicates that she may have it. The native woman secretly loves Elbert, but he is ignorant of this fact.

Robert Barker, the newly arrived missionary, bears gifts to King Lomba of the Bartosi tribe. The king accepts the gifts, but tells Barker, "The bones of our ancestors have told us that white men are traitors." Kahma, King Lomba's younger brother, is being educated at the mission. While hunting one day, he sees Grace, the daughter of the missionary, in line of fire and saves her life. The witch doctor decrees that Kahma be thrown into the jungle stockade.

Instilled with the spirit of patriotism after her teacher reads to her the story of Joan of Arc, Marie Yarbell goes home, persuades her father to enlist and then organizes a "military company" comprised of her playmates.

When Jimmie Collins, a pickpocket, is arrested and brought before Captain Callahan of the Tenth, he is surprised because he is lodged in a cell. Jimmie claims acquaintanceship with Bill McFarlin, a corrupt political boss, and he sneers at Captain Callahan when he is ordered to be placed behind the cell bars.

Paro, a half-breed Indian, overcome with liquor, encounters Grace, the pretty daughter of James Lathrop, a mine owner. She is sorry for his condition and gives him a cross of black jet. Dick Graham is a ne'er-do-well, who has been sheep raising in the low lands and lost his fortune.