Paul Potter, the captain of the Yale football team, becomes engaged to Sylvia Castle after promising her father that they will live in their hometown in Indiana. When Sylvia visits Yale for the senior prom, however, and sees that Paul is embarrassed by her small town manner and dress, and is attracted to Muriel Evers, a married society woman, she releases him from his promise. She then returns to Indiana while Paul advances to Wall Street. After Sylvia's father dies, she works and meets an alcoholic actor, Henry Leamington, who encourages her to become an actress while she helps him conquer his affliction. In New York, after Sylvia becomes well-known, she meets Paul, unhappily married to Muriel, and they realize that they still love each other. After Muriel dies in an automobile accident, Paul, thinking an actress wife would harm his business reputation, proposes that Sylvia become his mistress. Sylvia, now convinced of Paul's character, marries Henry.—AFI