Miriam Monroe and John Conrad are two young scientific workers who, independently of each other, have discovered a chemical called exonite. Miriam discovered it while searching for a cure for cancer, while Conrad used it as a basis for a powerful explosive. When Conrad points out to her that its use could bring about world peace, Miriam works with him to perfect the formula. After Miriam's father, the head of a great corporation, receives news that the country is threatened by war, he and his partner, Albert Bernard, consider exonite for government use but Conrad, still professing peace, refuses to give up his formula for the purposes of war. Miriam, refusing to take no for an answer, steals into the lab to procure the formula, where she finds Bernard, actually a German spy, attempting to obtain the chemical for his government. After a struggle, Bernard is captured by secret service agents, and Conrad agrees to give the formula to his country.