Marion Beaumont and her younger sister, Gwendolin, are orphans, inheriting from their father a mortgaged estate, gambling instincts and a social position to uphold. Through gambling and card debts they become deeply involved. Marion gets into the hands of Noel Ferrers, who, under the pretense of helping her, is gradually drawing her into a web of serious trouble, so that he can compel her younger sister, Gwen, to become his wife. Ferrers persuades Marion, in a fit of desperation, to show a magnificent tiara of precious stones lent to her by Madame D'Orville, to Morris, a society pawnbroker. The clever strategy suggested by Ferrers to raise money on the tiara, is to change the box containing the jewel for one which only holds a paperweight. With the money obtained on this, Ferrers tells her her fortune is certain by backing his horse for a race the next day. The horse loses, as Ferrers intends, and Marion is distracted.