The cast included Lon Chaney and Noah Beery, Sr. For her performance in this film, Anna May Wong received her first screen credit.

[3] It is notable as an early anthology film, comprising four short stories: “The Bad Samaritan” by Thomas McMorrow, “The Man Who Heard Everything” by Walter Trumbull, “Hop” by Hugh Wiley, and “The Intrigue” by Marshall Neilan.

Chin Gow's father rejoiced when he was born, for boys brought good luck, whereas girl babies bring only misery.

Three of Chin's sisters had been thrown into the Canton river at birth, and this barbaric custom horrified the young boy.

When Chin (Lon Chaney) reaches manhood, he moves to San Francisco where he opens a dozen opium dens.

He falls in love with Toy Sing (Anna May Wong) and wins her hand in marriage only after tricking her into believing he has quit the opium trade.

Racing to the next room, they discover that Chin Gow in his opium-induced coma had been leaning against the wall, and the spike was driven into the back of his skull, killing him instantly.

Reginald Vanderbrook (John Bowers) is on a yachting trip around the world when he meets a beautiful native girl on an island stopover.

"Director Marshal Neilan introduces a decided novelty to the screen in this film, made up of four short stories, all of which were too good to lose, but none of sufficient length to make a full feature in itself.

---Moving Picture World "Marshal Neilan has put over a real novelty in making a full-length feature out of a succession of detached stories, all of the utmost compactness and punch.