Barbara Dean is a wealthy but lonely young woman, and wishing to emulate the example of the dreaming Arab, she poses as "Emily Stanton," a poor and struggling young writer, who lives in a shabby, genteel boarding house, peopled by brilliant young people who have failed to open the gates of opportunity that their merit would seem to command. Without their knowledge, she made two young artists fashionable successes; she gave a brilliant playwright a production of his work, a play that was the sensation of the year. Again she thus made it possible for him and his loyal little fiancée, who had stayed by him for better and worse, to marry in reality: likewise secured for the unlucky young actor the position of leading man, and brought to the poor but proud inventor, whom she really loved, the recognition that meant at once fame and fortune. But it almost broke the spell when she revealed her identity to her lover, for his pride revolted both at the deception and the marrying of one whoso worldly goods was far greater than his own. But this obstacle she also overcame, and then Miss Haroun Al Raschid returned to her own estate spiritually richer by a hundredfold through these varied experiences than she had ever been before.
—Moving Picture World synopsis