Immigrant from Ireland, Dan Canavan goes from street cleaner to husband of society belle Beatrice Newness. As a street cleaner he is trampled by horses drawing the Newness Victoria. The accident leaves on his chest a scar in the shape of a horseshoe that perpetually brings him good luck. He finds he can control the world with the wave of a red flag. He makes this power the basis of his philosophy of life, and becoming a politician, he rises quickly to the position of czar of the city. He takes as his wife the woman whose horses once trampled him. When, however, she tires of his boorish, lower class manner and is about to leave him, he again waves the red flag and she is made to see his intrinsic worth beyond superficial manifestation.