Reporter Tom Warder exposes theatrical manager Isaac Shuman's practice of leading girls who want to become stars astray, after finding one such girl, Ruth Shipman, in Shuman's office. Disgraced, Shuman sends Tom a note threatening to kill him and leaves town. During the next three years, Tom marries Ruth and they have a child. Tom writes a play from which Shuman, who has since returned, copies the major scenes and returns, saying he cannot use it. After another manager buys the play, Tom sees that Shuman is producing it under an assumed name. Shuman has a necklace planted on Tom and through bribery has him sent to the penitentiary. After his baby dies from malnutrition, Tom learns of Ruth's illness and escapes, but finds her dead. Tom makes Shuman come to a café and slips a bottle of poison in his pocket after drinking half of it. Dying, Tom tells the police that Shuman killed him and produces Shuman's threatening letter.