Natalie Storm, a young woman struggling to support her mother and little sister through sweatshop labor, sees her mother die and her sister suffer for want of proper food and surroundings. This forces her to reject the proposal of Tom Chandler, a self-educated mining engineer, who then sets out for South America to make his fortune. To save her sister, Natalie becomes the mistress of Wall Street magnate Alvin Dunning, until he publicly humiliates her and she determines to free herself. Meanwhile, Chandler returns after having discovered a copper mine in South America. Invited to a party at the Dunning house, he meets Natalie as Dunning's mistress and, heartbroken, abruptly departs. Natalie, by now desperate, obtains a lucky stock tip that enables her to finally break with Dunning. Seeking her out, Dunning attempts to force her to return to him, and in a wild car ride, he is killed and Natalie severly injured. Upon opening her eyes after the crash, she sees Tom standing over her, and the lovers are reconciled.