Ruth, a waitress in a cheap restaurant, contributes what she can to the support of her family at home, until the mother's ill health brings the domestic situation to a crisis. Having insufficient money for their needs. Ruth is tempted to "play the horses," at which after losing, she dons male attire and entering the pool room is arrested in a raid. After a night in the station house her identity is disclosed, as also her inability to pay the fine. A wealthy young attorney, Arthur Lowe, on the scene at the time, straightens matters out. Ruth, however, has lost her position, and in seeking another, at a beautiful summer hotel, runs into her elder sister, who some time before left home for the gayer life of the city, in company with two pseudo gentlemen, card sharps, one of whom she lives with. The other, Powers, is quick to realize that Ruth's prettiness will prove a wonderful decoy for their victims. One day Ruth, while canoeing with Powers, is upset and saved from a watery grave by Lowe, who was leaving his launch for the shore, after which, recognizing each other, their friendship increases, while Powers' hatred of Lowe grows rabid. At a card game with Lowe, Powers is caught cheating by Ruth, who exposes him, whereupon a fight starts between the two men, in which Powers, about to strike Lowe over the head with a decanter, is shot through the shoulder by Ruth. The story ends happily with Ruth, her mother and Lowe leaving for a long cruise on Lowe's yacht, and as the stern of the yacht disappears in the distance, Dan Cupid, minus one arrow, stands on the shore smiling contentedly.
