The man is a mystery in the little town. He lives alone in his cabin and will not meet the advanced of his neighbors. One night he talks and tells the story of his life. He had been a prosperous lawyer in an eastern town and was engaged to be married to the sweetest of girls. The night before the wedding day she died and in his anguish he called in the devil. The devil said that he would bring back the departed life, but that if the man laughed he would lose his love again. And in the man's joy at his sweetheart's recovery he forgot and laughed and straight the girl died. "Here is Satan now," said the man, as he fell over dead.

Although Dorenzo murders Betty Herron, a jury convicts her brother James, and sentences him to life imprisonment. Then, after James saves the governor's life during a prison revolt, he is made a trustee and falls in love with the governor's daughter Ruth, even though he has yet to meet her.

Robert Gordon wants Donald, his son, to marry Sir Ralph Fisher's sister, but Donald loves Alice, a working-class girl, and weds her in secret.

A modern artist named Raphael dreams that he is the ancient Greek sculptor Phidias, who has been commissioned by the wealthy Georgias to carve a number of statues. When Phidias refuses to give up his work, Diogenes appears and suggests that the sculptor ask the statues themselves whom they would prefer as their owner. After coming to life, the statues abandon the sculptor for the rich man. Awakening, Raphael continues his pursuit of the beautiful Marco, a society woman who has posed for him. Marco ultimately spurns his love in favor of a wealthy viscount, however, leaving Raphael to seek happiness with the humble but loving Marie.