A stockbroker in financial difficulties raises a loan through a money lender on securities entrusted to him by a wealthy client. With the proceeds he leads a gay life in doubtful company among whom is "Handsome Charlie," a police suspect. He loses his pocket book which is picked up by the latter. The police are notified of the loss and a detective overhears an incriminating conversation. He is about to arrest Charlie, who escapes. The broker is in despair, the client having demanded the return of the securities. "Handsome Charlie," urged by his lady friend, also an acquaintance of the broker's, restores the pocketbook. He is persuaded by the broker to obtain the pledged securities by handing a spurious draft in exchange, which he does, but he is tempted by the contents of the safe and in defending his property the moneylender is fatally injured. "Handsome Charlie" runs away, hands the broker the documents and, after disguising himself, makes his way to the railway station. Losing the last train, he seeks refuge at the house of his female friend. The place is raided. The hunted man once more gets away. The police are now close on his track in a leap from a roof into the water, crawls along the telephone wires and plunges into the sea from a moving cantilever bridge. He is finally run to earth and the city is rid of its big game.
—Moving Picture World synopsis