After attempting to succeed in his father-in-law’s fishing business, Gordon Gray persuades his wife, Rena, to return to his home and wealthy family. Once they arrive, she learns from Gordon's aunt, Mrs. Gray, how to become a lady.
As youths, Carl Pfeiffer and Henry Block came to America from Germany. Pfeiffer became a wholesale shoe dealer, while Block became a banker. In spite of their lines of work, they apparently save most of their energy for their unending arguments with each other. The latest dispute involves the Great War (the film takes place in the days just before America became involved).
When her cotton crop is burned, Barbara Pelham, a beautiful southern girl, comes to New York to find work as a fashion designer, staying with Mrs. Kemp, a woman she meets on the northbound train. In Mrs. Kemp's house, Barbara encounters Peter Heffner, a wealthy stockbroker, and discovers from him that she has taken up residence in a whorehouse. There is a police raid, but Barbara escapes arrest and returns home. Heffner's son, Neil, goes south to inspect some family property and there meets Barbara, with whom he falls in love. They decide to be married, and she accompanies him to New York, where she meets the elder Heffner for a second time. He denounces her as a whore, but Barbara goes to Mrs. Kemp, who explains the misunderstanding to everyone's satisfaction.
