The son of a wealthy imported goods dealer, Herbert Franklyn refuses to curb his appetite for gaiety and women after his engagement, with the result that his fiancee, Miriam Faversham, breaks off their relationship. On the firm's annual trip to Japan, Herbert meets Cherry Blossom, whose father Tokimasa wishes her to marry a Westerner. Despite her love for Kato Nakamura, Cherry Blossom complies with her father's wishes and departs for New Rochelle with her new husband. Soon after their arrival, Herbert resumes his old habits, neglecting his lonely bride. Kato has a vision of Cherry Blossom's unhappiness and comes to America with Tokimasa, who strangles Herbert and commits suicide.—Pamela Short

Herbert Franklyn, known as "Mr. Butterfly" because of his many affairs of the heart, turns to the Orient when Mildred Faversham breaks their engagement. In Japan Franklyn meets Tokimassa, a wealthy merchant, and his daughter, Cherry Blossom. Cherry Blossom loves Kato, her father's secretary, but the old man has ideas of an International alliance that shall bring East and West into closer touch, and Cherry Blossom and Franklyn are married. Returned to America, Franklyn soon tires of his wife and neglects her for Miriam, whom he persuades to renew the engagement, his marriage having been kept a secret. But he goes to see Cherry Blossom once more and the profligate of the West meets the vengeance of the East.—Moving Picture World synopsis