In 1912, Nell Saunders, a hard-working waitress, is in love with Jim Platt, a loafer who lives off her money and treats her badly. When Nell loses her waitressing job because she is late to work after an afternoon with Jim, he forces her to take a job washing floors at McGovern's saloon, even though it is not a respectable place to work. At the saloon, she fights off the advances of Mooney, one of the regulars. He bets that he can kiss her, and Jim walks in as he is trying. Furious, Jim fights with Mooney and kills him in the process. The police close down the saloon, and Jim is sent to prison for five years on manslaughter charges. Myrtle, a former waitress who now works at Madame Cloquette's brothel, suggests that Nell join her there, but Maggie, a Salvation Army worker, intervenes and Nell joins the Army. There, she gives birth to Jim's baby, Jimmy. Jim gets time off for good behavior and arrives unexpectedly at Nell's just as Major Williams of the Army has declared his love. Jim kicks the major out of the room and tries to convince Nell to come with him. Nell learns that he intends to rob a bank and tries to dissuade him, but even the sight of his son has no effect on his plans. Jim leaves, but when he sees Nell at prayer, his feelings change, and he agrees to join Nell in the Salvation Army.