- Big-hearted Prue, living in the slums, and Danny O'Maddigan, a reformed crook, want to buy a birthday cake for Prue's 75-year-old grandmother. They live across the hall from Ellen Rutherford, the destitute widow of Steven Rutherford, Jr., who was disinherited by his father, a wealthy candy manufacturer. Prue, who works at the candy factory, gives Ellen the money that was meant for her grandmother's cake so Ellen will be able to care for her son Bobby. Frustrated over the loss of the money, Danny steals the price of a cake from the factory's safe, leaving the safe's door open in his haste to depart. Danny's former gang arrives and cleans out the safe, and Danny is convicted of the crime and sent to prison for four years. While Danny is in prison, Bobby is struck by his grandfather's car and slightly injured. Stricken with remorse, Mr. Rutherford effects a reconciliation with his daughter-in-law and promises to use his influence to bring about Danny's release from prison.—Pamela Short
- Prue Mason, employed in Stephen Rutherford's candy factory, is known as "Sunbeam" because of her happy spirit. Prue lives with her old grandmother and Danny O'Maddigan, a product of the reformatory. Across the hall from Prue live young widow Ellen Rutherford and her little son Bobby. Ellen tells Prue that she is the daughter-in-law of the wealthy Rutherford. When his son married beneath his station the old man disinherited him, and when the son died the young wife struggled along as best she could to support herself and her baby. Out of work, she sends a letter to Rutherford appealing for aid. He refuses it, and the rose that she encloses from his son's grave he throws into the fire. But he cannot forget Prue's reminder that "a rose is a message from Heaven." When Prue and Danny reach home they find Granny just waking. It is her 75th birthday, and she has dreamed that she has a birthday cake with 75 candles on it. Prue and Danny make up their minds that she must have that cake, and they combine their savings to get it for her. Prue goes over to see Ellen and finds that she is about to be dispossessed for not paying the rent. Prue gives her the money and goes back to Danny to tell him they cannot buy the cake. Danny, angry and disappointed, leaves the house and meets the gang, who try to induce him to "crack" Rutherford's safe for them. He refuses, but later goes to the safe alone and extracts from it a ten-dollar bill to pay for Granny's party. Hearing a noise, Danny hurries away, leaving the safe open. The gang comes and rifles it. The "job" is traced to Danny, and he is arrested. He tries to escape, but Prue prevents him, saying, "You must take your medicine like a man. I shall be waiting for you." A rosebush Prue has given Ellen blooms, and Prue takes the first blossom and puts it in a vase on Rutherford's desk. He knocks it over angrily, and calling Burke, the old bookkeeper, asks where it came from. Burke tells him the young lady who placed it there said it was a message from Heaven. Rutherford throws the rose into the waste-basket, but later picks it up again. The rose seems to work Rutherford's reformation. He sends for Prue, kisses her and raises the old bookkeeper's salary. Soon after, Rutherford's automobile knocks down a child in the street. It is his own grandchild. He takes Bobby home and gives him every care. Bobby has toys without number, and when he is lonely his little friends of the tenement house are brought in to play with him. The Helping Handers, under the leadership of Mrs. Van Tuyl (who has an ambition to become Mrs. Rutherford) have been invited to dinner. Rutherford has not told the butler who his guests are, but only the number of them, so when the children come he ushers them all into the dining room to partake of the elaborate feast that has been prepared. The Helping Handers come later, find the dinner eaten, and leave in high dudgeon, Mrs. Van Tuyl suddenly abandoning her ambition to become Mrs. Rutherford. A storm comes up and the children are all put to bed on mattresses on the floor, Prue acting as "little mother." Rutherford realizes that it is the love of little children he has needed all these years. The moment is auspicious, and Prue brings the young mother to him. Ellen and Bobby remain under his roof. Prue steals over to the window and cannot keep the tears from falling. Ellen tells Rutherford, "All her life Prue has been a sunbeam to others, but no one has ever thought of her." Rutherford tells Prue he will be needing Danny very badly at the factory, and he believes he has influence enough to get him free.—Moving Picture World synopsis
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