Actress Fay McMillan finds her child, Pauline, whom she deserted years ago, in an orphanage, but Monty, her financer, objects to her taking it back. In Paris she becomes a sensation as Laura Figlan; while intoxicated, however, she cancels her American engagement. Meanwhile, her daughter, having left the orphanage and "inherited" her mother's talent, tries to substitute for Laura and carries out the impersonation successfully. The mother, now a dope addict, hears of the imposture and comes to the theater and shoots Frawley, leaving Pauline to take the blame. As Pauline is about to be sentenced, Laura discovers that she is aiding in the prosecution of her own child, and after writing a confession she kills herself.