customs agent ward jansen (phillips smalley) is sent to china to conduct an investigation into opium smuggling. his wife, lydia (lois weber), is the daughter of local politician william waters (charles hammond). left behind in san francisco and grieving the loss of their child, lydia resorts to the drug and becomes an addict. when jansen returns, he notices his wife's strange behavior but does not attribute it to drug addiction. jansen continues his investigation in san francisco, and some of the methods of smuggling rings and customs inspectors are depicted. the investigation eventually leads jansen to raid an opium den in chinatown where he discovers his wife and learns of her addiction. jansen's investigation ultimately reveals that his father-in-law is a key player in the smuggling operation. discovery, as well as guilt over his daughter's plight, leads to waters' suicide. jansen supports his wife and helps her through withdrawal to recovery.