When the United States enters World War I, widow worries that she will lose her only son David, who has just turned 21. Although David patriotically urges the employees at his factory to enlist, he reluctantly gives in to his mother's pleas to remain at home with her. When David is drafted, his panic-stricken mother alters the date on his birth certificate, although the later birth date implies that he is illegitimate. Disgusted, David enlists under an assumed name, thus shaming Helen, who confesses her dishonesty to the townspeople. Her son, now in uniform, then forgives her.

David Morrison is his mother's idol, and when he becomes engaged to Virginia Gordon her last hope seems about to be realized. Then comes the war. David insists upon enlisting, but his mother's pleas at last prevail. The selective draft follows, and once more David sees a chance. The terror-crazed mother seizes upon one last hope. Before the draft board she declares David to be illegitimate, born more than a year after the death of her husband, and therefore not yet twenty-one. Horror-stricken, David enlists under another name, but at last the mother sees the light, and confesses her subterfuge, giving her boy to the country he loves so well.—Moving Picture World synopsis