When bored courtesan Zelie de Chaumet begs her lover, the corrupt and powerful Stetz, to take her slumming, the pair encounter Pierre Boucheron, alias 'The Rat' , boy-king of the Paris underworld, and the innocent Odile. Love, life and jewels are risked and lost in this powerful romantic melodrama as the four characters' lives are changed by this chance encounter for ever.

A rich woman refuses to bear her husband a child, but adopts a son by his mistress after his death.

A poor author has an engaged girl pose as his wife to please his dying father.

A henpeck man inherits a fortune and starts a club for women-haters.

A jilted aunt refuses to let her niece marry a violinist's nephew.

A quack doctor 'cures' a victim of venereal disease, whose baby is later born infected.

'1860-1910. Life of a mayor's daughter if she married (a) a rich baronet; (b) a poor shopkeeper; (c) nobody.' (British Film Catalogue)

Retired actress poses as dresser to scare murderer into confessing and clearing her son.