The story of a poor young woman, separated by prejudice from her husband and baby, is interwoven with tales of intolerance from throughout history.

Alcoholic former artist David Stanley and impoverished violinist Judith Deering appear before Judge Henning. After the kindly judge dismisses the minor charges against the couple, Judith finds a job, after which she secretly sends money to David, using the judge as an intermediary. David soon stops drinking and successfully resumes his career.

Bob Beemis comes to New York City hoping to get his family entrenched in the high-society circuit, but only succeeds in making friends with one person in the social whirl, Archie de Rennsaler. They party with a couple of chorus girls and Bob falls in love with one of them. His uncle arrives from the West to check out his progress, finds there has been none, and closes out his bank account. What's a poor rich-boy do do? Well, he could enter his horse in a really, really Big Race.

Marcel Murphy, a telephone operator with society aspirations, overhears Mrs. Benson's conversation describing a party she is planning for her son, Ralph, and wangles an invitation by imitating Mrs. Benson's voice. At the party a maid accuses Marcel of the theft of another guest's jewelry, but she appeals to Mr. Benson, who covers up for her by describing Marcel as the daughter of an old friend and by secretly installing her in a hotel suite.

Upon observing the adoration that track star Culver Covington receives, his friend, J. Wallingford Speed, decides to impress Helen Blake by also posing as a sprinter. Meanwhile, when Roberta Keap decides to retire to her Western ranch while awaiting her divorce, Speed, Helen and various friends accompany her while her husband Donald takes up residence at the neighboring Gallagher ranch.

Rodrigo, an impoverished Italian nobleman takes a job with a New York antique dealer he met overseas. Swearing off women, Rodrigo focuses on his job. But complications arise when he falls in love with his friend's secretary-- and his friend's wife looks to make a date with him.

Constance Keener, who is betrothed to young millionaire Merton Torrey, confesses to him her desire for romance such as he does not give her. On the occasion of a masquerade ball, Torrey is unable to escort her; and while she is alone on the balcony, someone suddenly seizes and kisses her, then disappears. She attempts to discover her assailant's identity.

Edward Everett Horton and Ruth Dwyer are in love and expect to get married as soon as one of them mentions it to the other. In the meantime, Lolita Lee accepts Horton's proposal, which he doesn't recall making, and Miss Dwyer is invited to be a bridesmaid. So he tells Miss Dwyer that it's Stanley Taylor she's marrying, and hopes no one spills the beans before Taylor shows up in a false beard to spike the proceedings.

After Bruce Morrison marries Rose Kendall, he receives information that his father is gravely ill, and not to tell him of Bruce's marriage because the father has picked Jane Penfield to be his son's wife. Jane's brother Murray, however, learns of the marriage and demands money to keep the news from Bruce's father.

Marcia Grey is wrongly convicted on trumped-up evidence of a German. After serving her term, she rebuilds her life and marries well.

Nora Dakon, bored with the dullness of her life in a small New Jersey town, leaves her husband and small daughter to run off with Larry Brundage, a wealthy New York City sportsman. Nora's husband kills himself, and, to avoid scandal, Brundage walks out on Nora. She returns to her child and later she becomes a noted singer. Nora moves to Paris, France, and at a party to celebrate the Armistice, she again meets Brundage, who falls madly in love with her daughter, Ruth. To break up their engagement, Nora is forced to tell Ruth of her tragic relationship with Brundage years earlier. Ruth leaves Brundage and soon finds consolation in the love of Tom Cautley, a young art student.

A European prince is raised in America without knowing his true identity; he spends his time thrill-seeking, but his country needs him when a revolt threatens the crown.

Doug is an American mining engineer. Pres. Valdez of Paragonia wants him to reopen the country's mines. Doug is not interested ... until he sees the President's beautiful daughter, Juana. Valdez returns to Paragonia, but is deposed by Generals Sanchez and Garcia and locked in San Mateo Prison. The Americano arrives...

Playboy novelist Sebastian Maure falls for Ghiirlaine Bellamy, a product of a wealthy--and puritanical--society family, a girl so prim and proper that she's known as "The Blonde Saint". One night at a dinner party, she informs Maure that she is engaged to young VIncent Pamfort and is leaving for England the next day to marry him. Maure tricks her into meeting him onboard a boat going to Palermo, and before they get there she suddenly grabs her and jumps overboard. They wind up in a fishing village on a small island and before long find themselves caught up in a cholera epidemic and a local criminal gang.

While traveling in Europe Philip Quentin encounters his former sweetheart, Dorothy Garrison, and finds that she is now engaged to Prince Ugo Ravorelli, whom Philip recognizes as the man wanted for a murder in Brazil.

Winthrop Chase is running for mayor on the prohibition ticket in a town where his irresponsible son Wint is infamous for his drunken sprees. Wint is in love with Joan Caretall, whose father Amos is a big political boss. Amos fears Winthrop's power and decides to stalemate him by substituting Wint's name on the ballot for that of his father. The morning after the election, Wint awakens from a drunken stupor and finds himself the mayor.

Wealthy Jarvis Pendleton acts as benefactor for orphan Judy Abbott, anonymously sponsoring her in her boarding school. But as she grows up, he finds himself falling in love with her, and she with him, though she does not know that the man she has fallen for is her benefactor.

Mae Murray as a Jazz Age baby who treats men like swine until she falls for the upright doctor living next door.

A silent film version of the Kern-Bolton-Wodehouse "Princess Theatre" musical. The story concerns an engaged young man, Bill, whose ex-fiancée arrives unexpectedly on his wedding day. Meanwhile, comic complications arise because of a couple of crooks, the bride's mother dislikes the groom, and the nuptials are called off. Bill works to convince his old flame that he was not worthy to marry her; but his clumsy efforts do not make him look good to his new fiancée.

Elliot Worthington falls in love with Myra, the maid in his sister's household. Myra is dismissed; Elliot finds her, proposes marriage, and returns home with his new bride. She is snubbed by his relatives and shocked by the hypocrisy of his wealthy friends. Disillusioned, she runs away: Elliot follows and saves her from being hit by a train when her foot gets caught in a switch.