Jackie Blair arrives in the United States as a steerage passenger and faces deportation because his mother has died during the voyage. Captain Bill, a retired skipper, tries his best to amuse Jackie while arrangements are being made for his return trip, but Jackie escapes and follows the captain to his shanty home. Although the captain loves the boy, his poverty and age preclude his keeping him. Meanwhile, a wealthy matron who is Jackie's grandmother, missing Jackie at Ellis Island, begins a search for him. When the captain is taken ill, Jackie earns money by dancing in the streets and buys medicine for his patron, and at the settlement house where he attends a party given by the rich matron Jackie steals some grapes. Tracked by the police to the captain's shanty, Jackie is taken into custody and learns that he is Mrs. Blair's grandson; he and the captain then find a happy home with his wealthy relative.
