Former police detective Vic Barron is released from San Quentin after serving three years for a crime for which he was framed. Prior to his sentencing, Vic’s wife and young daughter were killed in a car bombing in which he was facially disfigured. Vic is obsessed with tracking down the man he believes was responsible for both the bombings and his incarceration, San Francisco mobster Tino Morelli. Although friends on the police force attempt to dissuade him from pursuing Morelli, Vic goes to the nightclub run by Morelli’s partner, Nick Buda. However, Buda and his sadistic gunman Roxey claim not to know where Morelli can be found. Vic then visits his former sweetheart, Lily Arnold, who is now Roxey’s moll, and when Roxey finds them together, Vic knocks him out. Lily then tells Vic that Morelli and his little girl are living in Ketchikan, Alaska. After Vic leaves by plane for Alaska, Roxey finds out that Lily has revealed Morelli’s location and sends a cable advising Morelli that Vic is on his way there. Buda then orders Roxey, the actual bomber, to go to Alaska with Lily to kill Morelli and frame Vic for the crime. Buda also tells Roxey to make sure that Lily “remains” in Alaska. When Vic reaches Ketchikan, he goes to a bar and asks about Morelli. Peggy Harding, the bar’s owner, realizes that Morelli is posing as Al Corey, the man with whom she is having a relationship, but says nothing. Johnny Blue-eyes, Morelli’s henchman, follows Vic to his hotel room and tells him that Morelli had nothing to do with the bombing or the frame up, but is willing to pay Vic off, even though he is innocent. Vic is unconvinced, and when he and Morelli encounter each other by chance in Peggy’s bar, they talk, but resolve nothing. Peggy then invites Vic to join her on her small boat and they visit Indian ceremonial grounds. When Peggy tells Vic that Morelli is a good father and is trying to change his life, Vic informs her that her friend was “The Big Man” in San Francisco rackets and that he murdered Vic's family. Peggy feels sympathy for Vic and they embrace. Later, Peggy goes to see Ketchikan police officer Mike Walters and explains the situation to him. After Vic befriends Marie, Morelli’s young daughter, he removes a bullet from his revolver and asks her to give it to her father as an indication that he could have harmed her. Furious at Vic's implied threat, Morelli arms himself and drives off to find Vic. Roxey, who has been hiding in the car’s backseat, forces Morelli at gunpoint to drive to a remote area, where he tells Morelli that he was responsible for the death’s of Vic’s family and that Buda has now ordered his death. Roxey then shoots and kills Morelli. Lily goes to Peggy’s bar looking for Vic to warn him about Roxey, but before she can do so, Mike enters and demands that Vic hand over his gun. After slugging Mike, Vic runs out to Morelli’s house and is about to kidnap Marie when her trust and innocence touch him and he returns her to her bed. Roxey returns to his hotel room and, using a cushion as a silencer, shoots Lily. When Peggy finds Vic, he tells her he intends to go back to San Francisco, but she asks him to stay. Vic then receives a phone call from the dying Lily who informs him that Roxey bombed Vic’s car, killed Morelli and shot her. Before she dies, Lily tells Vic she has left a letter for him. Peggy and Vic drive to the airport to stop Roxey from leaving, but he shoots at them and drives off. Vic chases after him in a stolen cab while Peggy and Mike follow in Mike’s patrol car. Mike tells Peggy that they have found Lily’s letter, which clears Vic. When the road ends at a mill with a large dam, the pursuit continues on foot until Vic catches Roxey on top of the dam. Roxey tries to trick Vic, but Vic shoots him and he falls to his death in the dam. Later, as he prepares to return to San Francisco, Vic, now in love with Peggy and captivated by Marie, embraces them and they assume that he will return to them before long.