When reporter Ken Marshall exposes corruption in the political machine of construction magnate Stuart Gaines, Gaines and his men forcibly pour liquor down the throat of an unconscious Ken and stage a drunk driving accident during which a man is killed. Ken, whose wife Ruth is pregnant, is found guilty of manslaughter and sent to prison. Ruth and Ken's editor, Bob Leeds, vow to fight for his release, but several months later, Ken is still in prison. When he learns that Ruth is ill, he escapes from prison with the help of his cellmate, Clubby Blake. Blake is left behind during the escape and vows that he will get even with Ken. Ken and Ruth become fugitives, but when the baby's birth nears, they stop in a small town to look for a doctor. Hearing that they have no money, Dr. Philip Black offers to let Ruth and Ken stay with him until Ruth recovers from her delivery. Ruth gives birth to a girl, whom they name Penny, for luck. Now that the baby is born, Ken decides to leave for California to look for work. Privately, Ruth tells Black the truth about their situation, and the good-hearted doctor arranges for Ken, now using the name Ken Scott, to take over the local newspaper. Five years later, the Marshalls are living happily with Black, and Ken has gained a reputation as an honest, hard-hitting newspaperman. One day, Ken is spotted by Blake, who is out of prison and down on his luck. Blake offers to sell his knowledge to the power and light company head, who is currently being investigated by Ken's paper. When the man refuses to pay Blake, he returns to the doctor's house and asks Ruth for money. She finally pays him with the money she and Ken have been saving for Penny's schooling. When Blake returns for more money, Black intervenes and has the fingerprints on Blake's drinking glass checked by the police. Meanwhile, Ken tells Ruth that he is being followed by detectives. Blake, who is still in the house, overhears their plans to leave town, and holds a gun on Ken. When Ken orders him to leave, Blake shoots him. The detectives who have followed Ken surround the house, and shoot Blake when he tries to escape. Later, Ken learns that one of his framers has confessed and his name is cleared.