The Crucible of Life

After the breakup of her marriage, Gladys Dale works for prominent society woman Mrs. Dorset as companion to her daughter Diana. Mrs. Dorset's ne'er-do-well son Robert becomes involved with a gang of thieves headed by German spy Fritz von Hoffbert, and after stealing his mother's jewels, he casts the blame on Gladys. Saddened, Gladys leaves for France as a Red Cross nurse, where she meets Edwin Fairfax, who loves her. Fairfax commands the army company to which von Hoffbert has been assigned as a spy, and when Fairfax learns the latter's true identity, the two fight. Fairfax is wounded defeating von Hoffbert and meets Gladys again in the hospital, where he proposes. At home, Robert is caught in another robbery, which clears Gladys' name.