Jean, an artist, takes everybody's troubles upon himself. As often as he can sell a picture, he squanders the money upon "dem good-for-nothin' artists," as Mammy says. Falconer, another artist, is a heavy drinker and dies, leaving Mary, Laura, and Toodles, his children, in sore straits. The artists are very sorry, but know nothing they can do to help them, as they have little to give. Jean, though poor himself, takes the orphans into his home. Having just bought a new overcoat, Jean meets J. Gage Russell, a poorly-dressed elderly man, on the street, without a topcoat, and forces his own upon him, under the impression that the old gentleman needs it. Old Russell sees the humor of the situation and follows Jean, learns his address, and determines to investigate the artist's conditions, so struck is he by his unusual generosity. Jean continues his life of self-sacrifice for his friend's children and finds it no small undertaking. Russell, a millionaire, instructs DuBeen, an art critic and picture dealer, to help Jean along by buying all his productions. DuBeen later tells Jean he lacks soul that he must live some deep emotion that will reflect in his work before he will be great. All goes along smoothly until Jean is awakened to the state of his heart by Harmon making love to little Mary and asking Jean's consent to allow him to marry her. He realizes his own great love for her, but in a last supreme sacrifice, hides it, and with tears in his eyes gives her to Harmon, while he returns to his studio to worship at the shrine of his high ideals of love. His soul awakened to these great thoughts, he imparts them to his canvas and his fame spreads throughout the world.