During the First World War, Captain Sam McGinnis marries Florence Lanham, a Salvation Army worker in France. When she mistakenly hears that Sam has been killed, she returns home to her wealthy family without mentioning her brief marriage. But Sam turns up, alive but poorly dressed, and Florence is happy to see him but appalled at his clothing. Sam decides to teach her a lesson about her snobbishness and thus takes a job as the butler for Florence's family.—Jim Beaver <[email protected]>
Florence Langham, a spoiled society girl, decides to join the Salvation Army and go to France during the war. There she meets Captain Sam McGinnis, an engineer. Without knowing anything of his family or past, she marries him. When his identification tag is found on the battlefield, she believes he is dead, and returns to her family's home in New York, not telling anyone she had been married. Her parents encourage her to marry wealthy William Arkwright. One evening she is giving a reception when McGinnis appears, in loud clothes, a gruff manner, and unpolished speech. The butler refuses to admit him, and Mr. Lanham summarily fires the butler for his impertinence. McGinnis then asks to see Florence privately. She then discovers he is a cobbler's son. Fearing his appearance will disgrace her in front of her friends, she pleads with him to leave. On his way out, McGinnis asks Mr. Lanham for the butler's position, and is hired. After a short time, McGinnis proves himself an adept butler.
One evening, a dinner guest happens to be an Army officer who knew McGinnis overseas. The officer keeps McGinnis' secret, but tells everyone how a certain Captain McGinnis is a fine engineer, and that he is recommending the man for an important position. The officer helps Sam try to win back his wife. He connives with Mrs. Smythe, a widow, to flirt with McGinnis. Florence, still in love with McGinnis, is incensed when she sees this. Florence decides to elope with Arkwright. McGinnis, the officer, and Mrs. Smythe follow the couple. Mrs. Smythe raves to Florence about the handsome butler in the Lanham household. Florence finally caves in, meets her husband at the hotel, and begs to come back to him.
