The Delicious Little Devil

Mary McGuire, a working-class girl in a New York tenement, reads about Gloria du Moine's scandal and the Peach Tree Inn ad in The New York Star. The headlines foreshadow a chance to reinvent herself. Her mind begins to turn toward seizing a new life through a bold impersonation.

To secure the position, Mary claims to be Gloria du Moine. The Peach Tree manager questions her shabby clothes, and Mary explains that her servant ran away with all her attire. The deception works, and she lands the hostess/dancer role.

The Peach Tree Inn stages its grand opening night with Gloria du Moine as the star. Jimmy Calhoun, heir to a contractor, is immediately enchanted and hints at proposing. Michael Calhoun hosts a private dinner in Gloria's honor to test her intentions and hopes she will slip up.

The Duke de Sauterne arrives in New York and learns of Gloria's Peach Tree performances. He is escorted into the Calhouns' private room during the dinner and watches Gloria without revealing his own identity. He presents no obvious sign that Gloria is an impostor, keeping his true plans hidden.

At sunrise, the guests remain in the Peach Tree Inn, exhausted from the night’s revelry. Gloria wakes in her private suite and slips away, with the Duke and Jimmy waking to follow. A tense pursuit begins as the men shadow her through the inn.

The chase leads to a corridor confrontation between Jimmy and the Duke. In the struggle, the Duke shoves Jimmy and sends him tumbling down the staircase in view of gawking guests. The inn erupts in chaos as the pursuit intensifies.

Mary bolts from the inn, hops into a car, and heads back to her family’s tenement in New York City. She hopes to escape the consequences of the masquerade by returning to her ordinary life. The two pursuers race after her toward her old neighborhood.

The Duke and Jimmy pursue Mary in their cars, with the Duke arriving first at the tenement. He forces his way inside, grabs Mary, and makes a crude advance. Jimmy arrives to intervene, leading to a gripping confrontation in the cramped rooms.

A detective arrives and arrests the Duke de Sauterne on charges related to being a swindler and facing deportation to Europe. The immediate danger to Mary is removed by legal means, though the masquerade’s consequences linger.

Jimmy’s father visits the tenement, sees Mary’s humble surroundings, and gives his blessing for Jimmy to marry her. The elder Calhoun’s approval seems to bridge class divides and affirm true affection. It marks a turning point from deception to legitimate love.

With the legal threat resolved and the blessing secured, Mary and Jimmy begin planning a life together. The couple faces the future with renewed confidence, choosing love over social barriers. The tale closes on a note of upward mobility born from courage and trust.

The story ends by reaffirming the ad's promise that a good future is possible for a girl with a past. Mary’s audacious gambit yields a new life built on love and family acceptance. The film leaves audiences with a sense of hopeful escape from poverty through bold choices.