- When Lord Latimer dies leaving nothing to his wanton son, young Ferdy is left penniless. Although his cousin, Eric Latimer, offers to show Ferdy a loophole in the will in exchange for a share of the inheritance, he refuses. Meanwhile, Marjorie Van Dam, the daughter of a wealthy American family visiting the neighboring estate, falls into a pond and is rescued by Ferdy. The two fall in love, and when Marjorie must return to America, she promises to wait for him. Confident of his future success, Ferdy sails for America. Upon his arrival, he falls into the water but is rescued by nouveau riche American John Brown. Brown is sympathetic to Ferdy's plight and promises to pay his debts and give him a substantial additional sum if Ferdy will help him become an "English gentleman" worthy of social acceptance by a woman whose photograph he carries. The lady of the photograph turns out to be Marjorie, but after Brown becomes a gentleman, he learns of the young couple's love and decides that Ferdy would be a more suitable husband for her. Finally, they are married with Brown's help and blessings.
- "And because my younger son, Ferdinand, disregarding my wishes, has been leading a riotous life, gambling, drinking and otherwise dissipating, I bequeath him nothing, absolutely nothing." Thus reads the will of the late Lord Latimer. Ferdy, his younger brother, finds himself facing the world, penniless and burdened with debts. Ferdy's cousin, Eric Latimer, discovers a flaw in the will and offers to show Ferdy for a "consideration," but he refuses Eric's aid. Marjorie Van Dam, daughter of an aristocratic American family, is visiting in Europe on an estate bordering the Latimer property. In an attempt to get a lily floating in a large fountain, she falls in. Ferdy, wandering in the gardens, sees this and helps her out. Eric meets them and a rivalry starts. Marjorie returns to America, and Ferdy, clinging to the hope that he will make good, asks her to wait for him. Marjorie assures him that she will. Ferdy sails to America, but Fate is unkind to him. Meanwhile, John Brown, who has just inherited millions, is unsuccessful in his many attempts to enter society, and turns his footsteps riverward, with a view of calming his mind. While at the river front, John Brown rescues Ferdy from drowning and takes him to his home. After he has heard Ferdy's story he makes a suggestion: "If you'll teach me all you know of etiquette and agree to impersonate an English lord so that I can get into society, I'll pay every cent you owe and then some besides. I want to marry a certain girl and you've got to help me." Ferdy accepts this office reluctantly. Six months have passed. Ferdy, with full-grown Van Dyke beard, has become Lord Soho. Eric. John Brown and Lord Soho are now frequent visitors at the Van Dam home, all suitors of Marjorie's. She is true to her promise to Ferdy. Eric, meantime, has received word that he is soon to become Lord Latimer and master of the Latimer estates. Mrs. Van Dam, however, announces that she prefers to have Lord Soho as her son-in-law and when the ladies retire, he and Mr. Van Dam consult a copy of Burke's Peerage. They find that there is no such person as Lord Soho and determine to unmask him. A large party is arranged at the Van Dam house. Van Dam and Eric expose Lord Soho in the midst of the throng. Ferdy bows, admits the fraud and goes from the room. Marjorie, guided by intuition, feels that Lord Soho is none other than Ferdy. But Brown leaves society in disgust and marries his stenographer. Ferdy hurries to the home of Brown, changes his clothes and once more attempts to end it all. At the Van Dam home he leaves a note for Brown. Brown, not being there, Marjorie opens the note and learns that Lord Soho is really Ferdy and that he is about to drown himself. Marjorie hurries to John Brown's home and immediately two machines rush toward the river. Ferdy is caught just as he is about to end his life. Explanations follow and soon two happy couples are planning the future. Ferdy, now sole heir to the Latimer fortune, and Mrs. Van Dam glorying in upbraiding her husband and threatening drastic action when she gets her hands on Eric Latimer, his friend.
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