Barry Baline, a New York subway guard, is knocked unconscious by the speeding automobile of Johnson Craigie, who has just escaped from an insane asylum. While unconscious Barry imagines himself exchanging places with Craigie, the millionaire; he attends a New Year's Eve ball and is drugged, is mistaken for Craigie by two blackmailers, and along with Minnie, a lady's maid, is taken to a dive on the East River waterfront. Minnie is held for hostage while Barry is sent to get ransom money. After numerous exciting events, he obtains the money from Craigie, succeeds in cornering the gang on a barge, escapes from the police, and saves the passengers of a runaway subway train from the demented Craigie. Awakening in the hospital, Barry finds that the girl of his dreams, Minnie, is his nurse.