Plot

Traveling from the Latin Quarter of Paris to Brittany to seek inspiration for his painting, artist Paul Dachette finds it in the person of Mignon, an orphan who consents to pose for him. They fall in love, and when he leaves with his portrait completed, Paul gives her a ring and promises that he will always be true to her. Back in the Latin Quarter, Paul forgets Mignon and becomes enmeshed in the wild life that he had left behind. One day, Mignon reads a report of Paul's injury in an accident and, lacking the necessary funds to travel, walks all the way to Paris, collapsing on the doorstep of M. Blanc, the baker, who gives her shelter. Seeking Paul at his studio, Mignon finds him in the arm of models Mimi and Fifi. About to cast herself in the river in despair, Mignon is saved by François Gautier, the famous painter, who takes her home and treats her as a daughter. Upon Gautier's death, Mignon becomes a wealthy heiress and Paul, learning of her good fortune, goes to the Gautier mansion begging to see her. Mignon renounces their love and Paul despondently wanders through a blinding rainstorm. The next morning Paul is found near death. Paul's friends send for Mignon and at his bedside, she forgives him and agrees to marry him.

Paul, with his boon companions of the Latin Quarter, is celebrating the announcement of the subject for the Gautier Art Student Prize Competition. It is to be "A Message of Spring." He goes to Brittany seeking inspiration and finds it in the person of Mignon, an orphan, who consents to pose for him. They fall in love, and when he leaves with his picture completed, he gives her a ring, and says that he will always be true to her. Paul's picture wins the prize, and he forgets all about Mignon. One day, Cou-Cou, who is disappointed, at not winning the prize, is knocked over in the street by an auto and injured. A reporter, in the confusion, takes the name of Paul, and a notice of his accident is published in the papers. Far away in Brittany, Mignon reads it, and determines to make her way to Paris to find her lover. She has not money enough for the journey, but sets out bravely to walk it. Arriving in Paris, she falls from weakness and hunger, on the doorstep of Monsieur Blanc, a kind-hearted baker, who has his shop not far from Paul's studio. Monsieur Blanc and his wife are good to the girl, who tells them her story. They try to discourage her going to Paul, as they have heard of his reputation for wildness, but she insists upon seeking him out. At his studio a supper party is in progress. Paul is seated with Mimi, a pretty model, on one side and Fifi on the other. Mignon opens the door and stands transfixed at the sight she sees. She runs from the room and never stops until she faints at the baker shop. Paul has seen her, and rushes out to search for her, but in vain. The baker and his wife wish to keep Mignon. but she leaves the ring and a note for Paul in her wooden shoes, and goes out to throw herself in the river. She is about to cast herself into the water, when Francois Gautier, the famous painter and donator of the prize, passes. He restrains her, and listens to her sad story. When she has told it, he offers to take her into his house and give her shelter. She accepts, and becomes almost a daughter to him. He dies suddenly, and she finds herself his heiress. She devotes her life to the saving of outcast women. Paul hears of her inheritance and goes to the Gautier mansion, begging her to see him. At first she will not receive him, but at last she does, only to tell him that her love for him is dead. In despair he wanders all night in a blinding rainstorm, and is found the next morning more dead than alive on a park bench. He is ill, and Cou-Cou determines to send for Mignon. She consents, and at his bedside she forgives him and their troth is plighted.