After her mother dies, the entire responsibility of the Carnaby household, including the protection of her dissolute brother Gordon, falls upon Lucy Carnaby. Financial difficulties force Lucy to sell some of her antique furniture which, unknown to her, is purchased by John Rand, a millionaire secretly in love with her. Before long, Gordon goes heavily into debt to Charles Etheridge, a crook. Realizing his advantage, Etheridge attempts to force his attentions upon Lucy. Angered at this, Gordon kills him. Lucy takes the blame for the murder and is brought to trial, fabricating a story of violated virtue as her motive. Gordon, his manhood finally asserting itself, hastens to the trial. On the way, he meets with an accident and, although barely alive, he drags himself into the courtroom to confess. Freed, Lucy is thinking of suicide when Rand changes her mind by proposing marriage.
—Pamela Short