After failing to get an advance on his paycheck, Eddie Lang, a clerk, borrows money from a loan shark in order to take his wife Mary and their two children on a vacation. When Eddie returns from his vacation, he finds that he is unable to repay the loan, as the bonus that he expected did not arrive. Although he tries to negotiate with the loan racketeers, headed by gangster Richard Farra, and offers to pay them in small weekly installments, the mob robs Eddie of his paychecks and threatens him. The gang begins to regularly accost Eddie on his way home from work and steal his paychecks, so the next time he receives his check, he mails it to his wife for safekeeping. The gang discovers Eddie's trick and sends some thugs to give him a beating and warn him not to go to the police unless he wishes to endanger his family. Desperate, Eddie steals money from his office in order to repay the gang, but his conscience later forces him to confess to the theft. Following his confession, Eddie is fired from his job, and is later forced to take a job on a WPA project. While working for the WPA, Eddie is visited by Farra's thugs, who give him such a severe beating that he must be hospitalized. Eddie's case is brought to the attention of the district attorney, and Eddie is given police protection so that he can testify in court about the gang's activities. Believing that his testimony will help others trapped in a similar predicament, Eddie offers to help the detectives find the leader of the mob. Before Eddie can testify, however, he is shot by Farra's men, who are then captured by the police. Although he is seriously wounded, Eddie is taken to the courtroom, where he gives his testimony and makes a speech asking all those who are being victimized by the mob to come forth with information. His speech proves effective, as additional testimony by others seals Farra's indictment. Following the trial, Eddie recovers from the gunshot wound, and is given a job at the district attorney's office.