While married to Bill Appleton, Eve visits a famous actor in his cottage and is discovered by Bill, who misunderstands Eve's adoration for the performer and, in a fight, accidentally kills him. Bill is sentenced to life imprisonment, and Eve goes into burlesque to support herself and her small daughter, Jackie. Eve's friend, burlesque prima donna Tim Adams, convinces Eve to give Jackie to her so that she can pursue a legitimate stage career on Broadway. Tim rears Jackie as her own, while Eve climbs to stardom and falls in love with theatrical producer Bert Ballin. Eve tries to escape her love for Bert by traveling to London, where she becomes an enormous success. Finally, she confesses to Bert that although she loves him, she has promised to free her husband Bill. With Bert's help, Bill is paroled. Tim tells Jackie who her real mother is in time for the girl to join Eve at the prison gates and await Bill's release.