"Bat" Murray, Boss of the 7th ward, meets Dorothy Randall, a banker's daughter and settlement worker. She urges him to better his condition. He mistakes her interest for something else and determines to make himself worthy of her. His neglect of his sweetheart, Mamie, causes her many heartaches, but she holds aloof to give him his opportunity. "Bat" attends Dorothy's school and is later elected councilman. He moves uptown to be nearer Dorothy. Later he runs for the legislature. His manager tells him the boys of "the 7th" are against him for his highbrow ideas. To regain his prestige "Bat" plans a grand ball and invites Dorothy. A longing to see "Bat" causes Mamie to accept the invitation of "Jimmy the Dip," a questionable character. At the ball "Bat" disapproves of Mamie's escort. She ignores him. A fire starts. "Bat" gets Dorothy out. Mamie loses a borrowed fan in the crush and is abandoned by Jimmy when she returns for it. She is overcome by the smoke and faints. "Bat" learns from Jimmy that Mamie is still in the building. He rescues her, but is badly burned in doing so. In the weary days following, in the hospital, it is Mamie who sits by his bedside. Dorothy sends flowers. The hope expressed by Dorothy in a letter that he will recover in time to attend her wedding is the final thing needed to make "Bat" realize where his love belongs.