'1860-1910. Life of a mayor's daughter if she married (a) a rich baronet; (b) a poor shopkeeper; (c) nobody.' (British Film Catalogue)

A jilted aunt refuses to let her niece marry a violinist's nephew.

When bored courtesan Zelie de Chaumet begs her lover, the corrupt and powerful Stetz, to take her slumming, the pair encounter Pierre Boucheron, alias 'The Rat' , boy-king of the Paris underworld, and the innocent Odile. Love, life and jewels are risked and lost in this powerful romantic melodrama as the four characters' lives are changed by this chance encounter for ever.

Retired actress poses as dresser to scare murderer into confessing and clearing her son.

A poor author has an engaged girl pose as his wife to please his dying father.