Todd Wilkins, a wealthy young man who aspires to be a writer, is advised by his publisher to improve his writing by learning about life and seeking adventure. Heeding the advice, Todd heads for San Francisco's Barbary Coast, where he rents a room in a boarding house. A short time later, when a murdered man is found in Todd's room, he is accused of the crime. After a series of misadventures, Todd unmasks the real murderer, a cardsharp, and wins the love of the landlady's daughter.