Ausonia is a poor circus performer, widowed and unemployed, with two young daughters. He succeeds to get hired in the theater of a fair run by Madame Mons and her daughter Paulete. Soon fired for having refused the owner's amorous proposals, he gets into trouble.
Marc Anavan, a rich young man, leads a profligate life and when he understands his fortune is about to evaporate he decides to change his life, to become a vagabond and to do good around him. The task is not easy but his faith in his mission and the love of Silvette will help Marc to overcome all the hardships on his way.
