While studying in Paris, Princess Oluf of Kosnia (Andree LeJon) befriends an American girl, Ruth Townley (Clayton), and gives her a locket bearing her name and the royal coat of arms. When Ruth accidentally drops the locket off a balcony, it is returned by a handsome stranger. Back home in Kosnia, Oluf wants to get married, but her choice of mate is challenged by Valdemir, the ruler of a neighboring principality (Warner Baxter).
Uncle Tom and Eliza's child are sold to Haley, a slave dealer. When Eliza learns that her son is to be taken from her, she steals the boy and runs away.
While vacationing with his father Edward at a Palm Beach hotel, George Welston becomes smitten with Eve Pendleton, the daughter of Edward's business rival Judson. After George prevents Pendleton from getting an option on a deal by racing in his car with his father's $100,000 deposit, Pendleton favors Eve's other suitor, Arthur Trask, whose gentlemanly manner conceals his intent to rob Eve and her wealthy friends.
The waif came to live with the unsuspecting old shoemaker. Then a homeless newsboy followed. One friendly heart bred another. That was too much for the proud, wealthy widowed sister. She declared she would have no orphans wished on her. Stilling her conscience, she took the children's legacy, but one Sunday morning after the war, peace silenced all conflict.
At her dying mother's bedside, Kate promises to bring her young brother into manhood. Eager to gain possession of the farm by marrying Kate, the foreman intends to get rid of the boy. He brings a physician to prove him demented. Kate refuses to believe this. Later, the foreman is a worthless husband to another and for the sake of the son that might have been hers, Kate demonstrates the golden rule.
The Woman Pays is a 1914 silent film that follows the story of an "innocent society woman" who finds herself in a difficult predicament.
The leader of "The Sons of the Brazen Joss," one of the Tongs, or Chinese social organizations, is murdered by Moy Wong, cunning leader of The Four Grains of Rice," a Tong of higher class and bitter enemies of the "Sons." Sworn to vengeance, the "Sons" await an opportunity to get even.
Miss Edna White is very much grieved when she has not a suitable gown to wear at a party. Mrs. Donald, a wealthy customer, calls and asks Edna to try the dress on she has bought for her inspection. It answers her purposes, and Edna is instructed to deliver the dress that night, on her way home.
Patience and Anne, two spinsters of the old school of aristocratic birth, have managed to keep up appearances under very trying conditions and with limited means, until they are reduced to such circumstances they are obliged to sell their household furnishing, of antique pattern, to raise the necessary "wherewithal" to live and pay the mortgage off the old home.
Mrs. Pearson is a little different from most mothers, at least in her general appearance, for she has that sweetness and calmness of disposition, which is characteristic of the Quakeress. Lois, her only child, does not inherit her mother's sedate and quiet temperament, apparently she is no different from other girls, quite natural, and does not object to the attentions paid her by John Harmon, who is very much in love with her.
Rose Leigh is a young schoolteacher. She sees a paragraph in the paper, saying that in a certain small village they have had in six months, three teachers (men), and all have left because the boys are so unruly and impossible. She resolves to try the experiment of giving them a woman teacher, and applies for the situation. The trustees of the school, who are at their wits' end, gladly accept the offer.
Cordelia Marlowe comes from a society family that has lost its fortune. She falls into the clutches of D.K. Franklin, a crooked lawyer who specializes in blackmail, and finds herself involved in Franklin's scheme to extort money from a family friend. She sets out to protect her friend's money and expose Franklin for the thief he is.
In China, a boy reads a legend about a mysterious woman's power over a wealthy Mandarin prince. In New York, Betty Cardon, a social butterfly, disregards her husband Blair's order to stop gambling their money at bridge, and finds herself in debt to Geoffrey North, who, encouraged by her flirting, now wants sexual payment. Cherry Blossom, a Chinese girl who refuses to be sold by her father to the brutal Li Hsun, a wealthy Mandarin, hides in Betty's home after Betty's friend, Susan Pettigrew, a mission worker, introduces them.
On a South Sea island, wealthy hunter Scott Quaigg meets Tiare, the daughter of a drunken Scotsman and a native woman, who happily give permission to marry her. While sailing to his home in New York, Quaigg treats Tiare roughly and throws Captain Croft overboard when he comes to her defense. Quaigg attempts to tame Tiare by exploiting her superstitions and threatening her with the same whip he uses on his pet leopard. Later, Tiare awaits her husband's return from a hunting trip with a gun and fires as a man enters, only to discover that it is Captain Croft, who was saved from drowning. Quaigg finds them together and releases the leopard. However, the beast kills its master before being shot by Croft. Afterward, Tiare and Croft return to the South Seas together.
When Lois Folsom's continual complaints about her husband Roger's sloppiness finally drive him out of the house, Lois seeks solace in the company of their friend, Henry Carter. Roger's brother Tom, angry at Lois because of her interference in his courtship of Dorothy Halstead, the ward of Jewish storekeeper Abe Guth, informs his brother that Lois has kissed Carter. This knowledge propels him to accept Jack Harkness' invitation to join in a gold mining expedition of Arctic City in Alaska. Unaware that his wife is pregnant, Roger leaves, and Lois, who is now desperate, accepts Carter's care. In the meantime, the Guth's store is destroyed by fire and Tom sustains the family by stealing food, but is jailed for his efforts. After Lois' baby is born, Carter ventures North to inform Roger. After an initial confrontation between the two men, Roger returns to his wife and frees Tom from jail. Tom, realizing the damage that his lies have caused, confesses his deceit and wins Dorothy's heart.
Scheming golddigger Count Bertrand Delande is pursuing wealthy Irene Waterloo, but has already proposed to Gwendolyne Vanderbilt. Gwendolyne and her social-climbing mother find evidence that Irene is actually black--shocked by this stunning revelation, Irene travels to Europe, where she finally finds out who she really is.
Ruined by a powerful financial ring, Farrington commits suicide, after which his daughter Paula vows to take vengeance in her own hands and hunt the man behind the ring. At a house party, Paula meets Dr. Smith, who falls in love with her, but a misunderstanding separates them. Unsuccessful in locating the man but knowing that papers in the house of Van Brunt, one of the ring members, will identify the leader, Paula secures the papers with the aid of Old Bill Fitch, a reformed burglar. To her horror, she discovers that the man is Dr. Smith's father. Paula relinquishes vengeance for love, and Dr. Smith's father, realizing the error of his ways, agrees to make reparations.
A tale of cheating in both love and business.
A character actress is struggling with age and the desire to save money while observing the manager's inappropriate advances towards the leading actress. She ultimately steps in to protect the young actress from her former husband's clutches.
Paul La Blanc graduates from the seminary with high honors with plans to enter the priesthood, a much-desired outcome for his parents. But when he meets one of the local parishioners Rose Miqueleon, they are mutually attracted. An amateur artist Paul paints a picture of the Madonna, with Rose as the subject. When the portrait is seen gossip spreads and his parents are enraged at the thought, he might abandon the church. Events reach a danger point until Paul’s father sees the young pair in the moonlight and realizes the inevitability of events.