Nineteen-year-old Muriel Fletcher suspects her severe guardians, William and Freda Whitefield, of trying to rob her and her cousin, Fletcher Hempstead, of their inherited estate. For romance, and to find someone to help her, Muriel decides to drop her purse with a note inside inviting the retriever to return it, but when she sees Ashe Colvin helping an elderly lady across a busy street, she puts the purse in his hands. When Ashe meets Freda, he recognizes the woman who years earlier ruined his career as district attorney in a scandal. Muriel's lost cousin Fletcher, who was driven to forgery by the Whitefields and is now a burglar known as the "Hornet," takes refuge from the police with Ashe, who gets him to rob the Whitefield's safe of documents clearing Ashe's name of scandal and confirming Muriel and Fletcher's inheritance. After the police arrest Ashe, disguised as Fletcher, for the robbery, Fletcher makes Whitefield confess. Upon his release, Ashe embraces Muriel.