District attorney Howard Lamson finally has determined that Wallace Thorpe heads a gang of crooks, but he can think of no way to convict him. Witnesses refuse to testify truthfully, because Wallace kills anyone who speaks against him, and then, to leave no doubt as to who was responsible for the murder, pins an ace of spades on the corpse. Wallace and his gang begin using a settlement house run by Howard's sister Shirley as their new headquarters, and when authorities start gathering damaging information on the gang's operation, Wallace kidnaps Shirley for protection. He then goes to Howard to try to strike a bargain, but Howard shoots Wallace and then makes him free Shirley, after which, finally in possession of irrefutable evidence, the district attorney puts Wallace in jail. -AFI