Steve Carnes, the son of a wealthy manufacturer, leads a useless life and is disowned by his father. After a night of gambling he returns, penniless, to his apartment. He is on the point of ending everything when his bell rings and he finds an abandoned baby on his doorstep. Steve and his valet, Hodges, attempt to pacify the child. The distracted mother, who has hoped to place the little one in a comfortable home, repents her act and comes to Steve's house, begging that the child be returned. Steve complies with her request and secretly follows her home. He sees that she lives in a disreputable tenement and finds a note from her husband's father, in which the latter states that the marriage was against his wishes and that the young woman has no claim upon him. Awakened to the misery that exists around him and filled with a desire to help the girl, Steve decides to impersonate the father-in-law, whom the girl has never seen. He sends a message, stating that he regrets sending the former communication and expressing his intention of calling upon her. Steve sells all of his belongings and is forced to become a laborer to keep up the deception. In a clever make-up he pays frequent visits to the tenement and one day he is set upon by two thugs. Badly injured he is carried into the tenement, where the young widow discovers that it is not an old man who has been visiting her, but a young man in disguise, who has proven a good Samaritan. The elder Carnes, learning of his son's sacrifice, rejoices and the future happiness of the young people is assured.