HenryPotteristheirresponsibleplayboysonofaNewYorkmillionaire.FearinghewilldisgracethefamilynameifhestaysinNewYork,thefathersendshimtoSanFranciscotoworkinthefamilyshipyardsand,tomakeamanoutofhim,heistoldhewillhavetostartatthebottomandworkhiswayup.Henrydecidesthisisnotagoodideaandresentsittothepointhewillindeedstartatthebottombutwillworkhiswaydownfromthere,anddisgracethefamilynameinSanFrancisco.Ononeofhisdrinkingbinges,hemeetsMarcelle,acabaretdancer.Hetoleratesherandshefallsinlovewithhimandpleadsforhimtogiveuphisdrinkingandcarousing.Thefathersendsacompany-manouttocheckonhimandhefindsHenryanalcoholicandverymuchindebt.HepaysoffHenry'sdebtsandthenpaysafreightercaptain$500toshanghaiHenrytoShanghai,wherethefamilynameislesswell-known.