Wealthy American widow Elizabeth Carter plans to marry the Earl of Dettminster when lawyer Augustus Tucker informs her of a codicil in her late husband's will. The Carter fortune will go to nephew Pitney Carter, who is in love with Elizabeth, if her second husband is not an American. Elizabeth therefore pays penniless playwright Jasper Mallory $50,000 to marry her and schemes with actress Mme. Albani to provide grounds for divorce so that she may then make the earl her third husband. The plan backfires when Jasper's play is a success and Elizabeth finds herself falling in love with him. Tucker admits to forging the codicil to enhance Pitney's chances with Elizabeth. As Jasper and Elizabeth announce their plans to remain married, a telegram arrives with news that Mme. Albani and the earl have wed.

Elizabeth Carter, a wealthy young widow, determines to marry an English Earl for the sake of his title, but a codicil in her first husband's will requires that she marry an American for her second husband if she is to hold the estate. She conceives the brilliant idea of marrying a second husband only to divorce him and so evade the terms of the will. She selects an impecunious playwright, Jasper Mallory, and precipitates a drama that runs to a happy but unexpected ending.—Moving Picture World synopsis