Greed prevents wealthy financier John Bennett from giving any thought to the misery he causes among the poor people who are affected by his stock manipulations with wheat, which raises the price of bread beyond the reach of the masses. His beautiful daughter Constance shares his delight in his financial success. By accident, she learns that her father's gain is the ruin of an old chum of hers, Jack Forsythe. She begins to see the harm that has been wrought. Settlement worker David Spencer realizes that Bennett is responsible for the pitiable condition of the people, having closed down his factory rather than accede to the workers' demands for more pay. David enters the Bennett home and forces Bennett to accompany him to the homes of the people who are suffering. Constance prevails upon her father to be lenient with Jack, getting there with the good tidings just in time to learn that Jack's mother has succumbed from the shock of her son's ruin. Bennett slowly begins to realize that his idea is wrong; that he is really to blame for the suffering of others. While walking to his work one morning, Bennett is set upon by the mob and must be rescued by David. He now pledges himself to help alleviate the suffering he has caused. Its latest form is an epidemic of typhoid. Unknown to the people, and using David as his lieutenant, he succeeds with the help of his daughter in relieving much of the suffering. When, six weeks later, the suffering is over, the people come and demand to meet their benefactor. When Bennett steps out on his veranda, they rail and shout at him angrily, until David explains that it is he who has helped them. Bennett then announces the engagement of David and Constance, who have fallen in love during their work together in the slums, and states that he resigns his place to the young man whom he considers the most worthy successor he could possibly choose. The crowd cheers him to the echo.