Mrs. Martin lives in New York's East Side with her son, Dan, who sells papers, and her daughter, Jenny, who works in a local doughnut shop. During the summer, Mrs. Martin becomes ill, and a trip away from the city is recommended; unable to finance such an undertaking, Jenny converts the backyard into a blooming garden, and in the outdoor activity thus provided her mother recovers. During the winter, Dan suffers from the cold, and when Pete drops a $5 bill in the shop, Jenny uses it to buy him a coat; Pete later threatens her with arrest, and she promises to return the money, which Dan obtains by robbing another store. Brother Dan is caught and sent to a reformatory; when Mrs. Martin goes blind, Jenny tells her that Dan has obtained a job in South America. Meanwhile, Jenny opens a rival doughnut shop, which is a success; and after her brother's return, she accepts the proposal of Tomasso, her suitor.