Here is the gruesome story: Alonzo (Lon Chaney), a murderer who has an easily identifiable double thumb on one hand, evades the police by joining a Spanish circus and masquerading quite convincingly as "The Armless Wonder." Estrellita (Joan Crawford), who cannot bear to be touched by any man, is attracted to "The Armless Wonder" for obvious reasons. In order to both cover up his crime and secure the love of Estrellita, Alonzo finds a surgeon to actually amputate his arms. Meanwhile, back at the circus, Malabar, The Strong Man, has managed to cure Estrellita of her phobia. In a remarkably acrobatic performance, Chaney uses his feet for hands when eating, drinking, smoking, and even scratching his head when meditating.