Ménilmontant tells the story of two sisters who come to Paris as orphans and initially get by with small jobs. It is disastrous for both of them that they fall in love with the same man. The younger sister becomes pregnant and has to fend for her child on her own, while the older sister goes procuring for the man and ends up in prostitution. The sisters find each other again and take revenge on the seducer in their own way.