Sam Harris gives a lift to a redhead, Madelynne Cabrone, being chased by her husband, gangster Joe Cabrone, who has caught her with another man. Joe assumes that Sam is the man she was with in the hotel and vows to kill him within twenty-four hours. The only thing that prevents him from carrying out the murder right away is the presence of a policeman who has stopped Sam for speeding. Hoping to lure Sam into the open, Joe sends him free tickets to a masquerade ball, which he and his men plan to attend dressed as policemen. Knowing that Joe intends to kill him, Sam is worried about what he will leave to his widow Lena, as his business is bankrupt and his insurance has lapsed. Lena is angry at Sam because his escapades made newspaper headlines and she partly believes that he is guilty. T. McGillicuddy Hungerford, known as Mac, has also read about Sam's exploits in the papers, but he admires Sam's bravery. He offers Sam a million dollar contract if he will go to the masquerade with him and two fast women. A rival gangster, Tobey Moran, offers Sam his protection, giving him two bodyguards. Although Sam tells Lena that he is working late, she learns that he and Mac are attending the costume party with two women. To keep an eye on him, Lena uses the free tickets that Joe has sent to attend the party herself. Unknown to everyone, one of the women with Sam is Madelynne. When Sam discovers her identity, he begs a policeman to take him to jail for protection, but the policeman turns out to be Joe in disguise. In a shootout between the two rival gangs, all the gangsters are killed but Sam and Mac escape unharmed. Lena learns the truth about Sam and Madelynne and forgives him. Mac leaves town in a hurry, without giving Sam the contract after all.