Helene who dances in a Greenwich Village cabaret accompanied on the violin by her grandfather loses her job after his death She then is hired as a portrait model by four artistsJaffrey Darrel Ned Lorrimer Dick Turner and Stanley Sargentall of whom become fascinated with her Helene leaves the Village when Neds jealousy disrupts the camaraderie of the quartet and becomes a stage star Meanwhile all of the artists have attained success except Jaffrey who refuses to taint his art with commercialism