Acting
Dan Williams leaves his small hometown in disgrace, and travels to New York City to try his luck on Broadway. He gets a small part in a Broadway show, but his press agent releases a story that he has a big part and is making $3,000 a week. Dan's father, a banker who is facing a run on his bank, hears about Dan's sudden "fortune" and asks him for financial help. Complications ensue.
Joel Parker is sent to college by his crabby farmer father only because it was his mother's dying wish that he get an education. At college, he's immediately pegged as a chump and is constantly victimized by the other students, headed by Jimmie Slater. Only Abbie Nettleton, who works at the campus bakery, has any sympathy for him.
The story is essentially the same as the popular Jane Cowl play, with Talmadge in the dual role of Kathleen and Moonyean. Kathleen, a young Irish woman, is in love with Kenneth Wayne but is prevented from marrying him by her guardian John Carteret. John is haunted by memories of his thwarted love for Kathleen's aunt, Moonyean.
A wannabe film star journeys to Hollywood, but soon finds his dreams do not pan out. This film is lost.
Having been brought up by his Uncle Clem, an itinerant peddler, Elmer Clinton has no trouble becoming the sales manager for a company that manufactures washing machines. Royce Enfield, the son of the company's president, wants his father to sell the business and therefore undermines Elmer's sales campaign. In a real effort to help Elmer, Uncle Clem obtains numerous orders for washing machines, but these are intercepted by Royce before they can be filled. Elmer is fired and, finding out the reason why, whips Royce in a fight.
Jim McMorrow and Bill Mullaney become close friends during the fighting in France, and Bill asks Jim to look after his family if anything should happen to him. Bill does not return from a patrol in no man's land, and Jim goes to the Mullaney farm, taking care of Bill's wife, Mary, and old Mother Mullaney, who dies shortly after Jim arrives. Jim and Mary are left alone on the farm, and the neighbors begin to gossip.
Young marrieds Guy & Bee are ostracized by their supposed friends in town when Bee discovers she is expecting but the legitimacy of their union is called into question. Eventually the squire who performed their ceremony becomes aware of the scandal and produces the necessary certificate.
Two former childhood gang members, "Kid" Hart and Orchid McGonigle, attempt to go straight, despite pressure to continue their lives of lawlessness.
Goody Rickby has a child out of wedlock, but it dies when the father, Gillead Wingate, refuses to acknowledge the child or help the mother get medical aid. Wingate becomes one of the foremost figures in the witch hunts, and Goody plots her revenge with Dr. Nicholas, who is really the Devil.
A woman-hater who inherits a beauty salon gets a new perspective on females after capturing a gang of thieves.
Country girl Jolanda has lost her boyfriend, Nathaniel Huggins, to a "flapper" from the city. Jolanda blackmails Nathaniel's father into giving his permission for he and Jolanda to be married--but circumstances arise that may make Jolanda rethink her position.
Jim Bradley has always played second fiddle in his family -- while his older brother, Herbert, goes off to college, Jim becomes a garage mechanic. When Herbert returns home, it's easy for him to steal Jim's girl, Polly Crawford. But trouble comes to the Bradley's town when Cragg murders his daughter and breaks into the family's home. Herbert goes for help, leaving Jim with an empty gun to protect their mother and Polly.
Ted MacDonald and his father, Edmund, sail to the South Seas to treat a cholera epidemic among the natives. Upon their return to Long Island, New York, Edmund is diagnosed with the disease, requiring him and Ted to remain on his ship, with regular visits by a doctor. Socialite Lois Brooke takes it upon herself to board the vessel, and she is also placed under quarantine. Lois and Ted fall in love, and during an extended visit to her home, he is seduced by her life of endless parties and hot jazz. An avaricious interloper attempts to come between Ted and Lois, but Edmund persuades them to return to the ship and continue their charitable mission.
Troubled Breck Dunbarton is placed in the custody of his kindly Uncle Ezra, who trusts him, making him an equal heir with his other nephew, West. After being falsely accused of a theft at his college Breck is expelled he joins the Army and is sent to France. At the front he meets ambulance drive Marie Moore before returning home after the Armistice where he learns of his uncle's passing. Sending for Marie to be Mrs. Dunbarton's companion, both Breck and West fall in love with her. When a theft occurs Breck is suspected but he is aware that West is the culprit though he can't prove it. Marie discovers that a disguised West is the thief and rescued by Breck. When West confesses Breck is cleared gaining both Marie and a fortune.
A lawyer (Bosworth) running for Congress decides to end his relationship with a showgirl (Bennett), so that he will be more presentable candidate. When the showgirl commits suicide, the police arrest the lawyer for murder.
Itinerant magician Balzamo arrives in the town where Dr. Emerson and his pretty young wife live. Smitten with Mrs. Emerson, Balzamo places her under a hypnotic spell and takes her away with him. Many years later, as she lies near death, she warns her daughter Dorothy to flee from the evil Balzamo.
