A drug-addicted member of Parliament needs to take time off and secretly pull his life together, so he gets his lookalike cousin to agree to temporarily assume his identity.
Mary Tucker, una desaliñada campesina que vive en la miseria, conoce a Martin y a Tim, dos jóvenes que trabajan en un equipo de instalación de líneas eléctricas. Cuando, en 1917, los Estados Unidos entran en la Primera Guerra Mundial, Martin y Tim son enviados al frente. En las trincheras reciben una carta de Mary, ante la que reaccionan de manera muy distinta: Tim se siente conmovido por la generosidad de la chica, en cambio, Martin se burla de ella. Cuando Tim regresa, Mary empieza a frecuentar su casa.
Nat Alden, un promotor, ha tenido mala suerte con su trato y está arruinado. Conoce a un viejo amigo del ejército que ahora es chófer del empresario que echó al infortunado Nat de su oficina. Nat va de regreso a su pequeña ciudad natal, donde se cree que es millonario. Para mantener viva la creencia, pide a su amigo que lo lleve allí en el automóvil del empresario. Las complicaciones surgen rápidamente.
John Loder looks exactly like his cousin, John Chilcote, who is a member of Parliament. Because of his dissolute ways, Chilcote collapses, and Loder is called in to take his place so that the family honor can remain unsullied. Loder's masquerade is so successful that no one suspects him of being an impostor, not even Chilcote's estranged wife, Eve. Loder distinguishes himself with his actions, both in public and private, while the real Chilcote sinks further into the gutter until he finally dies. Loder decides to remain as John Chilcote, and marries Eve, who, up until Loder reveals his true identity, has believed she was falling in love with her husband all over again.
