Ohlin (Jean Hersholt), a farmer, wants to marry his illegitimate daughter Helga (Greta Garbo) to a brutish man named Mondstrum (Alan Hale). Helga flees and comes upon a mountain cabin belonging to Rodney Spencer (Clark Gable), a construction engineer. He promises to help her, and they eventually fall in love. When Rodney leaves on business, promising to return and marry Helga, she learns that Ohlin is searching for her. She leaves the cabin and takes a carnival train to escape. She has an affair with the owner, Burlington (John Miljan), in order to stay with the carnival. Rodney returns and learns of her affair, and walks out on her, despite her pleas. Helga becomes the mistress of a wealthy politician, Mike Kelly (Hale Hamilton), and invites Rodney to visit her. She now goes by the name Susan Lenox. Rodney rejects her again, but loving him, she sets out to find him. She finds him in South America, working at a downtrodden construction camp. He refuses to believe that she has changed her ways. She almost agrees to go away with a rich man, Robert Lane (Ian Keith), but instead seeks out Rodney again. They are reconciled and start a new life together.