Peter James Slaney, just released from prison, is the only boarder who is kind to Lena, the maid at the cheap Paris Hotel. So that Lena can leave her abusive landlady, Slaney accepts $2,500 from a stranger, who threatens to send Slaney back to prison unless he undertakes a job. Slaney is sent to the home of political boss John Biggs with a sealed envelope which he is to open after entering. When a grieving child in the house complains of being mistreated by Biggs, Slaney takes her to Lena and throws the envelope away. When Slaney is later arrested, Lena and the child hide out. After Slaney's release, thugs beat him and he winds up in the county hospital. In the midst of a heated political campaign, Biggs submits to Lena's blackmailing, and Slaney learns that the brother of Bigg's divorced wife originally hired him to kidnap the child. After the child is returned to her mother, Slaney and Lena head for the country to start a new life.
—AFI