The Thenardiers and their small daughter, Eponine, and young son,Gavroche, are seen at their dingy country tavern. Here little Cosette, the daughter of Fantine, is seen performing drudgery and menial tasks. The Thenardiers are treating their own children kindly, but are cruel to Cosette. One day she is sent for water with a heavy pail. On the way she passes a toy store, and longingly admires a doll. On her way back she meets Jean Valjean, who asks her the way to the Thenardiers. Cosette leads him toward their place. On the way she looks longingly at the doll once more, and her action is observed by Valjean. He has learned by her talk that she is Fantine's child, whom he is seeking. Cosette runs ahead, and Valjean enters the tavern while Cosette is being scolded. He remonstrates with the Thenardiers, and goes out to the toy store and buys the doll for Cosette. Returning, he informs the Thenardiers that he has come to pay the child's board bill, and take her away. They gleefully accept the money and Valjean departs with the little girl. Thenardier, thinking he might have got more, follows him, but Valjean shows him the note that Fantine had written before she died, telling him to take care of the child. Valjean realizes a sum of money on securities, and decides to live in an obscure house in the poor quarter of Paris with little Cosette, away from the prying police. But the janitress of the house becomes suspicious of her new tenants and calls in the police after peeping and observing Valjean counting money, an unusual thing in that quarter of Paris. Javert by this time has been appointed to the detective force of Paris. He considers this case worthy of his personal inspection and goes to Valjean's lodgings and secrets himself in the garret above Valjean's room. Valjean takes alarm at Javert's boring through the ceiling. He leaves quickly, carrying Cosette, but is followed by Javert and his men. He is cornered in a blind alley, but makes his escape with a clothes line by the thrilling and dramatic feat of scaling an almost perpendicular wall. After a night of suspense he finds himself biding in the grounds of a convent. Here he meets the old gardener, Fauchelevent, whom he assisted from under the wagon and obtained for him his present position. The old man shows his gratitude by giving them asylum and getting Valjean a position as assistant gardener. The old man introduces him to the nuns as his brother, and thereafter Valjean is known as "Fauchelevent." Javert gives up the hope of capturing Valjean. Years after, Valjean still known as "Fauchelevent," is living in quiet ease with Cosette, now grown up, as his daughter. The Thenardiers have moved to Paris and are living in poverty, under an assumed name. In the next room to them dwells Marius, a student. Thenardier frequently appeals to him for money, and usually gets some. Eponine, Thenardiers daughter, also grown up, has fallen deeply in love with Marius, unbeknown to him. Marius walks and studies in the park, and there for the first time sees Cosette, sitting with her "father" Valjean. The two young people are attracted by each other at once. A little later Valjean is accosted by Eponine who is begging. She tells a pitiful story and Valjean and Cosette decide to go to her home and investigate the condition she has told concerning her family. Arriving there, Valjean leaves his coat and money, but neither he nor Cosette are recognized by any of the Thenardiers. As they leave the place, Marius is just returning home and he again comes face to face with Cosette, an incident which Valjean does not seem to like. Cosette accidentally drops a rose, Marius quickly picks it up and presses it to his lips. This action is observed by Eponine who becomes intensely jealous. Valjean has left his address with the Thenardiers in case they should need any further assistance. Marius demands of Eponine to give him the address, and this she does in a spirit of self-sacrifice. Marius starts at once to the house where Valjean and Cosette reside. He writes a note declaring his love, and puts it on a garden bench where Eponine has informed him Cosette lingers every evening. At this moment Cosette appears, reads the note and is surprised by Marius who has stepped behind the bushes at her approach. Valjean coming, suspects something, though Marius gets out of the way, and Cosette is taken to task by her foster father for the first time in his life. Marius has a wealthy grandfather who dotes on the lad provided his wishes are followed. The young man writes him of his love for Cosette and begs his sanction to an early marriage. The grandfather sends for Marius and tells him he cannot consent. .Marius repudiates him then and leaves in high anger. -- Moving Picture World synopsis