Lea Penman

Three convicts escape from prison on Devil's Island just before Christmas and arrive at a nearby French colonial town. They go to the store of the Ducotels, the only store that gives supplies on credit. They initially intend to take advantage of them but have a change of heart after they find the family is in financial troubles.

An American actor, impersonating an English butler, is hired by a rich woman from New Mexico to refine her husband and headstrong daughter. The complications increase when the town believes the actor/butler to be an earl and President Roosevelt decides to pay a visit.

The owner of a tavern is pressured by the local mob to go into business with them, and figures it's better all around if he does that rather than cause trouble. However, when he starts to see what kind of place his nice little neighborhood bar is turning into, and when one of the mob's goons tries to rape his daughter, he decides to fight them.

Troubled Breck Dunbarton is placed in the custody of his kindly Uncle Ezra, who trusts him, making him an equal heir with his other nephew, West. After being falsely accused of a theft at his college Breck is expelled he joins the Army and is sent to France. At the front he meets ambulance drive Marie Moore before returning home after the Armistice where he learns of his uncle's passing. Sending for Marie to be Mrs. Dunbarton's companion, both Breck and West fall in love with her. When a theft occurs Breck is suspected but he is aware that West is the culprit though he can't prove it. Marie discovers that a disguised West is the thief and rescued by Breck. When West confesses Breck is cleared gaining both Marie and a fortune.