Although Edith Adams and her mother are seven weeks late with their rent, Mrs. Adams, living in the more prosperous past, is more concerned with her daughter's inability to meet a man of refinement. Edith's brother Wade wastes his days gambling. Edith is courted by newspaper reporter, Speed Demming, but they cannot afford to marry, because the Adamses depend on Edith's earnings. Speed gets Wade a job, but he is promptly fired and later, he drunkenly crashes a stolen automobile. Fortunately for Wade, the car belongs to Amos Truslow, a former suitor of Mrs. Adams, and the charges against him are dropped. Amos, however, demands that Wade pay for the damages and he finds jobs for both Wade and Edith. Amos' nephew, Fred Truslow, falls in love with Edith and she ends her engagement to Speed, but when Fred gets too drunk to drive her home one night, she turns to Speed for help. Tired of paying for Fred's escapades, Amos stops his allowance, and Fred in turn demands that Wade repay a loan. To help Wade, Speed sells his car, but Mrs. Adams accidentally spends the money. Speed then borrows money from the office cleaning women. Wade bets the money on Fred's horse "Berrywine," and is able to pay all his debts with the winnings. Finally cured of gambling, Wade devotes himself to his job, and Edith and Speed look forward to their marriage.