Nickie is sentenced to be hanged for murdering racketeer Gordon because, in order to protect others, he refuses to offer justification for the killing. Everyone involved wants the sentence to be commuted, but the law is implacable.

The movie, like the play "The Noose" on which it is based, is the story of a young man sentenced to be hanged for murdering a racketeer because, in order to protect others whom he admires, he refuses to offer justification for the killing, either in court or afterward. Everyone involved wants the sentence to be commuted, but the law is implacable.—William Helton