Allan Brooks receives back his play from the managers. He returns to his studio convinced that life is a failure and that he will end it. Edith Mason, the girl who loves him, is an artist of no talent, but a strong and brave girl. While consoling him, her hand touches the pistol in his pocket and she gets it away from him. She tells him that success is not in money, but in a man’s heart and soul. He does not agree and declares he would sell his soul for success. She is horrified. Then a letter is brought in stating that his manuscript had been returned by mistake and he should call at once. Bert, a young doctor, is in love with Edith, but she prefers Allan. The opening night of Allan’s play arrives and the three attend the performance, which is a great success. Allan is called upon to make a speech and behind the scenes meets the beautiful leading lady. The manager and she try to urge him to go to supper with them, but he refuses, remembering the girl he left in the box. He returns to Bert and Edith and, getting an idea, he asks Bert to see Edith home as he has to see the manager. Edith is disappointed. The two go to a café and there see Allan in company of the leading lady and the manager. He merely nods to them, Bert sees Edith’s distress and offers to take her home, where she sobs out her grief. Later, Allan decides to give a dinner in honor of all the successes of the town. Edith, unable to sell her pictures, obtains work in an art shop painting dinner cards, etc. Allan sends in an order for cards, which Edith is told by the manager to deliver to his house. She is forced to do so. She arrives at Allan’s home and feeling faint is told by his secretary to sit down and rest. Meanwhile, the dinner is taking place in the next room. Allan then suggests that a failure be brought in to them as a contrast. The secretary, at a loss for a moment, remembers the girl outside and drags her into the dining room against her will. They all drink to the failure while visions of such successes as Edgar Allan Poe, Nathan Hale, Robert E. Lee and others appear on the wall. As the great cross of Calvary appears, one by one the guests steal out realizing that failure is not lack of gold and that these great men were once called failures. Allan looks at Edith, then falls across the table. Edith quickly summons Bert, who arrives almost immediately. They look at Allan; he is dead. Bert then leads her out and Allan lies alone in his deserted banquet hall.