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The story opens with the arrival in Hangtown of Madison Clay and his daughter, Salomy Jane, who have emigrated all the way from Kentucky. Straightway the young men and bachelors of the camp fall desperately in love with Salomy Jane. Her preference at first is for Rufe. Almost simultaneously with Clay's arrival the "Man" comes to Hangtown via the overland stage coach. He finds his way to the town bar and there recognizes Baldwin, who before coming west, had betrayed the "Man's" sister. The "Man" following comes upon him just in time to save Salomy from his insult. They grapple, but Baldwin breaks away and runs through the woods to his cabin where he begins packing with intent of leaving the community. Meantime Salomy. outraged at the insults of Baldwin, offers to marry Rufe on condition he kills him. Rufe demurs, but, passing Baldwin's cabin a short while afterward, hears noise of a fight inside and looking through the window sees the "Man" kill Baldwin. Remembering Salomy's promise, Rufe tells her that the crime is his, whereupon they become engaged. While this has been happening. Red Pete Heath, a worthless inhabitant of Hangtown, and a partner hold up the stage, wounding Yuba Bill, the driver. This crime, together with the murder of Baldwin, occasions a meeting of the vigilantes, who begin to scour the countryside for the offenders. At the same time these guardians of the law are given another source of worry. A letter from a kinsman has advised Larabee that there is a blood feud between his and Clay's family. The two antagonists meet and each declare that he will kill the other. In the midst of this excitement Salomy meets the "Man" on the road. She thinks at first that he may be one of the robbers. He however disabuses her in this respect, but admits that it was he who killed Baldwin. She brings the "Man" provisions and bids him good-bye with obvious reluctance. Then, acquainted with Rufe's deceit, she breaks her engagement with him. With the booty taken by Red Pete from the stage was a bracelet which falls into the hands of his little girl. She in turn gives it to Salomy. Yuba Bill sees it, recognizes it; thus the responsibility of the hold-up is fixed. In the chase that ensues Red Pete is taken after a sensational tumble over a cliff and his partner killed. Meanwhile one party of vigilantes have taken the "Man." thinking him Red Pete's accomplice. Red Pete's word and the report that the real accomplice has been killed, rights this mistake and the vigilantes are on the point of releasing the "Man," when Rufe declares him Baldwin's murderer. It is decided to hang him alongside Red Pete. Red Pete's wife bids him a tearful farewell. When it is asked if there is anyone to tell the stranger good-bye. Salomy embraces and kisses him. The Man" makes his escape a little later and returns to Salomy, who, to protect him from Rufe. disguises him in her father's hat and coat. Larabee. seeing him thus dressed, mistakes him for Clay and shoots at him. The bullet hits the brim of the stranger's hat. The "Man," in his turn, shoots and kills Larabee. Clay is suspected of this crime. He is forewarned by Starbottle. Thinking that Salomy has killed his enemy, the father assumes the guilt, saddles his horse and rides away. Meanwhile Salomy has joined the man and the two of them make their escape after a sensational fight, including a ride down the river on a log. Hangtown left far behind. Madison Clay meets his daughter and her lover. The whole tangle is explained away by the "Man's" admission that he killed Larabee. Thus reconciled to Salomy, the father finds another horse that the three may ride toward a new home. The stranger and Salomy ride together.

On her way to join her father, John Folinsbee, in the gold rush town of Poverty Flat, Lily meets and falls in love with a young miner named Joe, but her beauty also captures the heart of the local gentleman gambler, Jack Hamlin. Unimpressed with the poor but hopeful miner, Lily's father takes her to Europe to introduce her to wealthier suitors, and in Paris, she is courted by the Count De Brie until he learns that schemers in California have taken control of Folinsbee's mine. In the meantime, Joe strikes it rich, only to be abducted by the villainous Sanchez and his gang. Upon Lily's arrival home, she and Jack attempt to rescue Joe, and although their efforts prove successful, Jack is mortally wounded. Dying, Jack joins the hands of the two young sweethearts.

The picture opens with a scene in the drawing room of the home to which John Wilson, the State's District Attorney, has just brought his bride, Kate. This fades out into one year later. The young wife has become the mother of a baby girl. John Wilson is now a candidate for governor. Larry McCarthy, saloon proprietor and political boss of the southern half of the State, comes to Wilson's home to plead his support, and while there meets Kate. That same evening the Wilsons have dinner at the Frolic Café, where Estelle, a popular cabaret singer and McCarthy's sweetheart is the star performer. Because Wilson and his wife, both of whom do not drink, refuse to taste the wine offered by McCarthy, he decides to harm Wilson in his race for governor. With no suspicion of McCarthy's perfidy, Wilson is confident of victory, and in anticipation of it gives a ball on the night of election. During the affair, he receives news of his defeat. He wanders into the library and there finds a decanter of whiskey. Surrendering to a sudden impulse, he begins to drink and is thoroughly intoxicated when Kate discovers him later. Wilson becomes a confirmed drunkard. Estelle has run away with another man, and McCarthy, now determined to possess himself of Kate, assists Wilson on his downward way. Kate, finding it necessary to secure an income for the support of herself. John and Baby Sue through her own endeavors, saves a few dollars from the wreck of their fortune and goes into the millinery business. John sets out to mail a letter addressed to the insurance company. Kate has enclosed in it fifty dollars in bills to pay for a policy on her store. John's intentions are good enough, but McCarthy pulls him inside a saloon. The temptation is too great and he spends the money for liquor. At home that night while in a drunken stupor he throws a burning match on the floor. It sets fire to the curtain and soon the building is in flames. McCarthy arrives in the nick of time and rescues the family. Baby Sue has been seriously burned. Reduced to the poorest circumstances, the Wilsons are now forced to live in cheap apartments in Larry McCarthy's tenement house. Kate earns a miserable existence for them through taking in washing. Finally McCarthy proposes that he come as a boarder, thus eliminating the necessity of Kate's paying rent. John is now growing jealous and suspicious of McCarthy's intentions. Although the rent is already in arrears and Kate believes John's suspicions of McCarthy entirely unwarranted, she nevertheless listens to his wishes and refuses Larry's proposition. John has found a ray of hope in a newspaper article in which a prominent physician declares that the drink habit may sometimes be cured by a sudden shock. He makes a new resolution to brace up, and on the strength of it Kate allows him to collect a back laundry bill. John again succumbs, however. Left thus without resources to pay the rent, Kate is forced to allow McCarthy to come as a boarder. Realizing his utter worthlessness, John determined to no longer burden Kate with his presence and leaves. The blow of John's leaving completely breaks Kate's health. The doctor declares that she will never be able to work again. McCarthy has come to her assistance with nurses, medical assistance and other comforts. Just as Kate is improving, the doctor declares that Sue, who is still failing, must be sent to a country sanitarium. McCarthy again comes to the assistance and furnishes the money with which to send the child away. Through his continued kindness, Larry gains Kate's promise that she will divorce John and marry him. After that their intimacy gradually increases, until gossip starts and Kate is snubbed by her former friends. This causes her great anxiety on Sue's account and her great wish becomes urgent that she may secure her divorce in time to marry before the child returns from the sanitarium. Meanwhile Larry has begun to tire of her and resumes his associations with Estelle, who has some time before returned from Chicago. The decree of divorce is issued the day before Sue is to arrive home, and Kate goes ahead planning an immediate marriage. Larry is thoroughly infatuated with Estelle again and plans to run away with her. To still further deceive Kate and allay any suspicions that might arise, Larry secures a marriage license. He had not the opportunity to previously advise Estelle of this, and when she overhears a reporter's remarks concerning it she jumps at the conclusion that he intends to double cross her and marry Kate. She hurries to Kate's apartments and a scene ensues. Larry, who is in his room smuggling his grip out through the window, overhears the heated words, and going into the living room, finds Kate confronted by Estelle. He sees that there is no longer a chance of deception and so tells Estelle to go to the depot, where he will meet her. Larry starts back into his room, but Kate throws herself in front of him, declaring that he must marry her for Sue's sake. He knocks her onto the couch with a blow on the jaw and continues into the room. Kate rises in a daze and follows him. At just this juncture John, now an unkempt bum, enters the room. He registers that he hears something in Larry's room. Shortly after Kate comes out, finds a cop on the street and, leading him into the apartments, motions him into Larry's room. He finds Larry stretched on the floor murdered and John with a pistol in his hand. John is placed under arrest and brought to trial, but refuses to talk. Fred Moreley, his former assistant in the District Attorney's office, is John's attorney. He believes John innocent. Dr. Mahler has endeavored ineffectually to restore Kate's memory through hypnotism and continues in his efforts during the trial. He is trying for a recurrence of something that happened during the tragedy. The court is, however, unable to wait for her testimony and the jury files out to ballot for a verdict. The vote is "guilty." They return to the court room and the foreman is on the point of delivering the verdict. Dr. Mahler remembers the bruise that Larry's blow had left on Kate's face. He strikes her on the jaw and through the application of his hypnotic influence succeeds in restoring her memory. Kate rushes into the courtroom just before the verdict is delivered. She takes the stand and tells her story. When she followed Larry into the room on the night of the murder, her hand fell gropingly onto a revolver which he, in his hurry for departure, had left on his desk. She picked it up in a daze and pulled the trigger. It was she who killed McCarthy; John is released, and in the belief that conviction is impossible the District Attorney places no charge against Kate. There is a reunion of John, Kate and Sue.

In an early California settlement, Juanita, a dance hall queen of Castilian ancestry, knifes her lover, Jim Brandt, the dance hall owner, when she catches him embracing a new dancer. She hides in the cabin of hermit trapper Calvert and falls in love with him, but Calvert loves the parson's daughter Irene. After Juanita proves to Calvert that Irene and Sheriff Tanner are about to be engaged, Calvert reproaches Irene. Insulted, she tells Brandt where Juanita is, and tells Tanner that Calvert attacked her. Tanner rides to Calvert's cabin with a posse just after Calvert has knocked Brandt out. While Juanita holds the posse back with a rifle, Tanner fights a knife duel with Calvert until he discovers from Calvert's locket that Calvert is really his son. Because of her crime, Juanita is taken to Mexico, where Calvert, now in love, joins her.

After school one day, Violet, who associates with wicked boys bent on deceiving young girls, persuades her friend Louise to go riding with a couple of boys. Louise, suspicious of the boys' intentions, demands to be taken home. After Louise confesses that she lied to her mother about the escapade, her mother gives her Faust to read. Faust, an old man, sells his soul to the devil for one year of youth to win Marguerite. Marguerite succumbs and soon becomes enshrouded in darkness. The story causes Louise to refuse to meet the boys again. After Violet goes to a distant city with a boy who promises to marry her, Louise receives a letter asking her to help. She follows, and after learning from Violet of the boy's deception, Louise is lured into an apartment by the boy's friend. She attempts to jump from a ten-story window, but the boy catches her. Louise awakens to discover that she has been dreaming since reading Faust and then relates her lesson to Violet.

Beatriz Michelena plays the role of the princess Beatrix, of France, singing in opera in Rome; she is loved by Noel Brent, a young American, by the Duke de Grozzi, of the Italian foreign office, and by a Count, who is concerned in an international intrigue, which involves a secret treaty between Italy and Russia, to the detriment of France. The princess is led to bestow her affections on the Count, to the anger of the Duke, and the bitter disappointment of Noel, who goes away to Paris. The French ambassador learns of the secret treaty, and appeals to the patriotism of the Princess to steal it and send it to Paris long enough for the foreign office to peruse it. The treaty is in the safe of her fiance, and the princess manages to get it, and deliver it to the messenger, who starts for Paris. On his return, the messenger is waylaid by the Duke's agents, who seek to recover the treaty. Noel comes on the scene in time to get the document, and learning that the Princess' reputation is in danger unless the treaty is returned, hurries with it to Rome. He is in time to save the Princess from an attack by the Duke, who has lured her to his office, and after numerous complications, the treaty is restored to its place in the safe, and the Princess comes out of the deal unscratched. She is quick to break her engagement to the Count and marries the American.

The picture opens with the Gypsy camp and the assignation made there between Lothario and Musette, the daughter of Giarno, the leader of the Gypsies. Learning of their proposed meeting, Giarno declares vengeance on Lothario, to whom Musette hastens to give warning. At his palace the Gypsy girl learns for the first time that her lover is already married and is the father of baby Mignon. Her wild despair in consequence causes her to throw herself over the cliffs into the ocean. In the midst of the excitement, following this suicide, baby Mignon slips unobserved from the palace and, wandering too near the brink, also falls over the cliff, but is providentially saved by an out-jetting bush. Meanwhile Giarno has gone to the water's edge to reclaim the dead body of Musette from the waves and here sees Mignon's fall. Thinking to revenge himself on Lothario, he scrambles up the rocks and steals the child. This rapid succession of tragic events hastens the death of Lothario's wife, and Lothario, observing the disaster that follows his one moment's indiscretion, rushes insanely from the palace to begin his mad wanderings over western Europe. At this point the thread of the story is dropped to be picked up again years later, when Mignon has blossomed into maidenhood of 16 years. She follows Giarno's Gypsy train. He delights in cruelty toward her. He prizes her, however, because her exquisite dancing has become a source of revenue. One day she refuses to dance before a party of ladies and gentlemen, but Giarno, blacksnake in hand, is driving her to it, when Lothario, who is wandering by in rags, and carrying his old harp, tries to interfere. The Gypsy leader is too much for him, however. Shortly afterward Wilhelm Meister rides into the scene and succeeds in quelling Giarno from whom he later buys Mignon. The Gypsy-stolen maiden falls in love with Wilhelm, but finds a rival in Filina, the celebrated actress. Having spied upon a love-scene between the two, Mignon becomes convinced that Wilhelm is not intended for her, so starts to wander away with Lothario, but she cannot so easily tear her affections from the man who rescued her from Giarno. Leading Lothario, she follows Wilhelm again to a grand reception given by Frederick, one of Filina's suitors, in honor of the actress. She manages to smuggle herself and Lothario into the palace, again sees Filina making love to Wilhelm and, hoping to win favor and strengthen her own cause, steals to Filina's room and dresses herself in one of Filina's gowns. When she presents herself to Wilhelm in this attire, he commands her to take it off, but he shortly follows her up the stairs to soothe her wounded feelings. This gives Filina an idea. The old count, Frederick's uncle, objects to the youth's infatuation for Filina. It is agreed, therefore, that Filina is to follow Wilhelm into her room, the count is to discover the two of them there and is to demand an explanation, after which the only course left open for Wilhelm is to marry the actress. The plot seems to work nicely. Wilhelm declares that Filina is to be his wife. It was thought that Mignon had left the room. Instead she had secreted herself behind some curtains and hears Wilhelm's words. Filina discovers the Gypsy after Wilhelm and the count have taken their departure, and locks Mignon in the room. Wilhelm escorts Filina into the ballroom to announce their engagement, but scarcely have the words left his mouth when he detects the plot between the actress and the count. He therefore declares a change of mind and Frederick, in an impetuous desire to defend Filina's honor, challenges him to a duel. Some time before Mignon, in a burst of despair, has made a wish that the place might burn down. These thoughtless words take possession of Lothario's mad brain, and he proceeds to put the wish into execution. Wilhelm, who is in the midst of his duel with Frederick, sees the flames and rushes to learn that Mignon is locked in Filina's room. He makes his way through the fire to the doomed room, but Mignon. who wishes nothing better than death, now that she knows Wilhelm is to marry another, goes to the window and threatens to dash herself to the ground if he comes near her. Only after Wilhelm assures her that he loves but her, does she consent to the rescue. When they reach the courtyard, Wilhelm falls in a half-faint and submits to Filina's caresses, thinking that they are Mignon's. Mignon, observing this, believes Wilhelm's promises to her false and so again wanders away with Lothario. The two of them eventually happen near Lothario's former palace. The inn-keeper remembers him and leads him home. Here the recognition is consummated. The cloud rolls bark from Lothario's mind. He is once again the master, and Mignon his daughter. Wilhelm who has ridden out in search of the supposed Gypsy girl, finds her in new splendor and the romance has its ending in their plighted vows.

Portola and his band of adventurers departed from the Spanish settlement of San Diego, California, and traveled northward through the unexplored regions until they beheld the beautiful expanse of water which is now known as the San Francisco Bay. Hurrying back to San Diego, Portola reported the result of his expedition to the Royal Viceroy. The Viceroy decided to plant a Spanish colony and dispatched a column of settlers under the command of Juan Batista Anza, and Padre Junipero Serra, a monk, to the newly-found country. After a hazardous journey the colonists arrived, and the pious monk, raising the banners of the church and of Spain aloft, invoked the blessing of the Almighty upon the settlement named in honor of St. Francis. A hundred years passed over the little town before the first Yankee arrived from the distant United States, a thousand miles to the eastward. In him was the spirit of California's future greatness, for, from that moment, dates the periods of great expansion and prosperity which has made California one of the greatest States in the Union. Shortly after this the Mexican war was fought, and California became a territory of the United States. In 1849 gold was accidentally discovered near the then-village of San Francisco. From all parts of the world throngs of adventurers flocked to California. So great was the development that before another year had passed California was admitted as a full-fledged member into the Sisterhood of States. The next decade saw the rapidly-growing city in the clutches of a ring of lawless politicians. We next see the fair city of St. Francis almost leveled to the ground as the result of the great earthquake. Vast stretches that had been reduced to charred ruins are shown upon the screen. In the rebuilding of the almost-destroyed city we see the indomitable American spirit that has made the United States one of the leaders among nations assert itself. Undaunted by disaster, faithful to its ideals the newer and greater city of St. Francis arises from the smoldering ashes of her former self. A beautiful panoramic view showing the entire great Panama-Pacific Exposition, with the hills of the Golden Gate sloping to the sea, brings the spectacle to a fitting conclusion.

Baptiste is a desperado whom the police are after for slaying a man in the woods. John Baxter is sent out after him. He goes alone and he gets the man. They make a camp and John goes for wood, which is pointed out to him by Baptiste, who has cleverly led him into a bear trap. The officer is caught in its vise-like grip and left to die. But the Creator had willed otherwise, for Baptiste has still a spark of manhood and he goes back after reading a chapter in his Bible on "Do unto others, etc.," releases John, carries him to police headquarters, and again makes off. He is soon captured, however, and brought back to meet his reward,

When Rear Admiral Bancroft discovers the plans missing for his new battleship, suspicion falls on Lt. Clifford Bruce, his daughter Madeline's suitor, who was seen climbing out of the Admiral's window. In reality, Bruce, attempting to keep his courtship with Madeline a secret, was retrieving a love letter that he had written the Admiral's daughter. Madeline, suspecting Ito, the house servant, of stealing the plans, takes advantage of the fact that the servant is in love with her and visits his room that night. He shows her the plans which he boasts will bring him a fortune so that the two can elope. Madeline then attempts to gain possession of the papers, and in the ensuing struggle, Ito is stabbed to death. The supposition that he has committed "hari kari" avoids any further investigation, the plans are returned, and the lieutenant wins the consent of the admiral to marry Madeline.

Young Nell loses her job and home and her father is sent to prison. She joins the Salvation Army and tries to redeem him when he comes out bent on continuing his life of crime.

Young Lord Mainwaring leaves England for California in order to regain his health and to attend to business matters for his father. He becomes the guest of John Bradley, a lumberman, with whose daughter he falls in love. He also becomes sick and is nursed back to health by the girl. Another girl, Minty, a blacksmith's daughter, also falls in love with him. Mainwaring proposes marriage to Miss Bradley by letter, but the letter does not reach her and he concludes she has refused him. Minty's father becomes rich by a gold find. The young Lord disappears. He has lost his money in California. Years afterwards be meets Minty in Switzerland. She is rich and he is poor. She saves him from destitution and death; his heart goes out to her, and hers to him, and they are married.

Mrs. Wiggs, a loving mother whose husband has abandoned her, supports her many children and lives in hope of her husband's return.

This famous melodrama is so well known that it seems a waste of time to tell the tale. In this photoplay form it is as thrilling an offering as it ever was in the stage variety and from its beginning to ending there is not a let-up in the fast action. It is staged in appropriate surroundings and with appropriate settings.