- With a letter of introduction from his mother, small-town bank clerk Robert "Bob" Sheldon gets a position with financier Willard Thatcher, who in reality is his father who earlier deserted his mother and disclaimed him. Thatcher uses the boy's honest face and straightforward ways to victimize another banker, but when Bob denounces him, a struggle ensues and Thatcher is accidentally killed. Bob is tried for the crime when the only witness, Fan Baxter, the banker's mistress, accuses him of murder; and he is sentenced to die. His sweetheart, Dolly, with the aid of his mother, forces Fan to admit to perjury, and a last-minute ride through a storm saves Bob from electrocution.—AFI
- Robert Sheldon, the only son of the Widow Sheldon, tires of his small position at a country bank, and decides to try his luck in the big city. His mother gives him a letter of introduction of Willard Thatcher, one of the city's financial wizards. What Bob does not know is that Thatcher is his very much alive father, who had abandoned the boy and his mother years ago. Thatcher is impressed by the letter and also by Bob's appearance, so he hires the young man. Soon after, Bob meets and falls in love with Dolly Wilson, a professional dancer. Dolly knows of Thatcher's unscrupulous business dealings and tries to get Bob to leave the firm, but Bob does not heed her advice.
Henry Godfrey, a small-town banker, enters into a business arrangement with Thatcher, who sees an opportunity to fleece the unsuspecting man. Thatcher throws lavish parties for Godfrey and his wife, hosted by Fan Baxter, who is Thatcher's mistress. Bob's attendance lends an air of integrity to the proceedings. When the Godfrey deal is about to be closed, Dolly tells Bob he is being used by Thatcher and that Godfrey is going to be swindled. Bob then advises Godfrey not to go through with the deal. Bob tells Thatcher what he has done and an argument ensues. Dolly runs for help, while Fan remains. During the fight, Thatcher's revolver is accidentally discharged, mortally wounding him. As he is dying, Thatcher tells his servants that Bob attacked him, and Fan confirms this story. Bob is tried and convicted of murder, and sentenced to the electric chair. Bob's mother is ignorant of what has happened, so Dolly goes to see her, hoping the woman can make an appeal for her son's life.
With no hope left, Dolly and Mrs. Sheldon go to Fan's apartment, to plead with her to tell the truth. Fan refuses, which sets off a fury in Mrs. Sheldon. She brutally attacks Fan, and finally gets her to admit the truth. Fan tells the District Attorney that she committed perjury. With only a few hours to go to save Bob from execution, the District Attorney attempts to call the prison, but a storm has knocked out the phone lines. Dolly, Mrs. Sheldon, and the District Attorney pile into a car and head for the prison. With only a few minutes left, and no chance of arriving on time, they pass a power station. The District Attorney orders the power to be cut, and Bob is saved from execution.
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