Ruth Herwood adopts adopts Mary, the daughter of the drunken cobbler Jones, and sends the father to Australia. When Jones return he opens a tavern with the dancer Palmyra, connected to Ling Soo, keeper of an opium den. Palmyra demands Jones to get the beautiful Mary to work in the tavern bar, by blackmailing Ruth Herwood. Meeting Jones, the desperate and nervous Ruth happens to serve him poisoned drink.