Roger Curwell (William Stowell) is disowned by his father (Joseph W. Girard) because of his desire to be an artist. But instead of making good as a painter, Roger finds himself drunk and on the skids in San Francisco's Barbary Coast. At a dive run by Hell Morgan (Alfred Allen), he meets Lola (Dorothy Phillips), who nurses him back to physical and moral health. Slater Noble (Lon Chaney, who made a great villain even in the days before his horrific makeup jobs) wants Lola too, and separates the lovers. Meanwhile, Roger's father dies and he inherits his fortune. An old "friend" comes back into his life with designs on the money, but Lola stops the game. As all of this comes to a head, however, the 1906 San Franciso earthquake intervenes. Roger and Lola are separated, but finally he finds her in a tent on a hill. Hell Morgan and Slater's two lieutenants have been killed, so nothing is left that can keep the couple apart.
by Janiss Garza
synopsis
