Thrill-seeking society girl Lydia causes a motorcycle policeman's death and is prosecuted by her fiancé Daniel, who describes in lurid detail the downfall of Rome. While she's in prison, she reforms and Daniel becomes a wasted alcoholic.

Lydia Thorne, a wealthy girl who loves speed and thrills, is unsympathetic when her maid Evans is jailed for stealing her jewels. District Attorney Daniel O'Bannon visits Lydia to make her see the error of her own ways, but instead views a scene of Lydia and her friends that reminds him of a Roman orgy. O'Bannon feels that he must send Lydia to jail for her own good when her automobile-driving causes a motorcycle policeman's death. Lydia is resentful, and her rebuff of O'Bannon, who has come to love her, causes him such remorse that he turns to drink and dissipation. Meanwhile, Lydia reforms, realizes she loves O'Bannon, and resolves to do charitable work. She and Evans open a soup kitchen after their release, and a chance meeting with O'Bannon starts him on the road to recovery. With Lydia's encouragement he becomes himself again, runs for governor, but withdraws his candidacy to marry Lydia when he sees that her record would be a liability to him in politics.—Pamela Short