Buddy Billings, adopted son of the dean of detectives, uses hypnotism to extract confessions. Richard Gromley, a welfare worker who has redeemed many prisoners through love and kindness, warns Buddy against the use of hypnotism. Buddy does not listen and uses his power to make Mrs. Otto Fischer, an anarchist, confess. Mr. Fischer, furious over his wife's treatment, reveals that Buddy has just convicted his own mother and father and proves it by the crimson cross on Buddy's arm. Fischer escapes, and Buddy becomes depressed to the point of almost committing suicide. Gromley, however, using a divine power, redeems Fischer, who reveals that Gromley is Buddy's real father and that he had stolen the baby to revenge Gromley's use of hypnotism to get a confession. Buddy becomes convinced of his past errors and all ends happily.