Tom Macauley and his younger brother, Edwin, are directors in their father's bank. Edwin speculates with the bank's funds, but banker Lon Morris, a supposed friend, plots successfully to have Tom shoulder the blame. In prison, Tom becomes a trusty, but he breaks out when he learns that Morris is to marry Nora Brooks, his fiancee. He confronts Morris and Nora with the truth, beats up Morris for good luck, and returns to prison. His father dies heartbroken, and Tom is scorned by Edwin's wife when he is released. With the aid of two prison buddies (The Optimist and The Pessimist), Tom breaks into the Macauley bank (now controlled by Morris), steals funds, plants them in Morris' house, and notifies the bank examiners. Morris, who actually has been embezzling funds, goes to the bank to obtain more money before making a getaway. He is shot by a watchman; Tom learns that Nora has been a wife in name only; and he marries her.—Pamela Short