Tom Penworth, a reporter in the Gotham Gazette, is in love with the daughter of William Wayne. She, however, prefers another, and tells Penworth so at a party given to her father by the Elm Club, of which he is a president. At this party, Mr. Wayne is presented with a watch fob, which later proves his undoing. The same night, after the guests are gone, Wayne shows himself in his true character, that of a burglar, and attempts to rob a house. Startled by a noise in the house, he makes a hasty retreat, but drops his watch fob. This is found by Penworth, who decides to say nothing about it. The next morning, Wayne, thinking that all is lost, because of his watch fob, commits suicide, and Penworth, happening to be the first man on the scene, is accused by his rival of murder. How this interesting situation works out, should be left for the film to tell.