Convicted arsonist Steve Carter has always claimed that he was framed, and although New York pychiatrist Dr. Robert Ordway testified against him at his trial, he agrees that Steve had no apparent motive for the crime. Before his trial, Steve was the sales manager at the Bellem Music Company, which plays records to subscribers over the telephone wires. Anson, his replacement, is in love with fellow employee Jane Darrin, who was Steve's girl friend until he left her for Inez Grey, who currently works for Bellem's competitor, "Goldie" Harrigan. Although Jane, who believes that Steve is innocent, arranges for Philip Bellem to hire him after he is paroled, Goldie is convinced that Steve will approach him for a job. After he leaves prison, Steve asks Ordway to help prove his innocence, but when Ordway declines to help, Steve visits Goldie's office. Before he leaves there, Steve rekindles his relationship with Inez. Later, at Bellem's, Anson overhears Pete Bellem, the owner's slightly retarded brother, recording a song, and angrily orders him to leave the building. Outside, Pete sees Steve enter the building. When Anson is later found murdered, police inspector Manning asks for Ordway's help in solving the crime. Although the police suspect Steve of the killing, Ordway discovers that Bellem had recently insured Anson's life for $25,000. Bellem assures them, however, that it is a standard procedure to insure the life of the sales manager. Then Manning and Ordway discover that Steve is hiding at Jane's apartment. When Manning tries to test his hands for gunpowder, Steve runs away. They then test a glove that was found in his coat, and the powder residue matches the murder weapon. Ordway, however, believes that the glove was planted on Steve, and when the police refuse to test the other suspects, he decides to continue the investigation on his own. He first questions Goldie, who denies that Steve was at his office, then asks Bellem for permission to question Pete. Jane fetches Pete and learns that the argument between Pete and Anson was accidentally recorded when Pete neglected to shut off the machine he was using to record his song. Pete and Ordway return to the recording studio just as Jane is about to break the record. As a favor to Pete, Ordway offers to take the recording home and listen to his song, unaware that Steve has taken refuge in his house. Ordway plays the recording, which reveals that Jane killed Anson because he knew that she had framed Steve for the fire that she set because she was jealous of Inez. Steve, who is listening in secret, overhears and discloses his presence. Having followed Ordway home, Jane then appears and threatens to kill Steve if Ordway does not let her go. Manning arrives unexpectedly, and Jane is killed in the ensuing gunfight. Later, Inez and Goldie also arrive at Ordway's house, and Inez admits that she still loves Steve.