After a high-speed police chase, gambler and ex-convict Cliff Banks jumps from a bridge into a river to elude capture. Later that night, he gets a ride from Betty, an unsuspecting librarian, to whom he recounts his problems: When he first arrives in Los Angeles, Cliff meets and falls for Phyllis, a nightclub singer, who introduces him to Sam Baker, a thief. During their first robbery together, Sam shoots and wounds a night watchman. Later, Cliff parlays his share of the robbery money into $10,000. Seeing the injured watchman at the racetrack, however, Cliff asks Phyllis to hold his money in case he is captured, but when he safely returns to the nightclub that night, the singer has disappeared. Cliff is later captured by the police and given a three-year sentence in San Quentin. Learning that there is a $1,000 reward for his capture, Cliff leaves Betty and makes his way to a roadhouse, whose proprietor, Marie, offers him food and shelter. He tells Marie that after his release from prison, he got an honest job, only to meet up with Sam once again: After Cliff agrees to give the thief a ride into town, Sam robs a bank and jumps into Cliff's car, leading to the high-speed chase. Back at the roadhouse, Cliff concludes his story and lies down. Thinking that Cliff has fallen asleep, Marie calls the police, but the fugitive overhears her and escapes. He then makes his way to the country home of Clem Broderick and his blind daughter Jane, who offer him refuge from a lightning storm. The next morning, Cliff steals some money and a necklace from a dresser drawer, which Jane discovers missing before the fugitive can leave. Cliff, however, becomes fascinated by Jane's spirituality and connection to nature and gives back the money and necklace. Afterward, he is allowed to stay on at the farm. That night, Cliff dreams that he accidentally shoots Clem and tries to force himself on Jane. He awakes the next morning and tells Jane that he is no good and must leave, but the blind girl asks him to stay until her father returns from a bear hunt. Clem then accidentally shoots himself, but Cliff tells Jane that he cannot take her father into town without risking arrest. He changes his mind, though, and once in town, is immediately arrested. Fortunately, Sam has been captured and has confessed to the crime, so Cliff is released. He then returns to the farm with Jane to start a new life.