Despite being fired from his job,newspaper reporter Steve Burton (Glenn Ford) continues to investigate a case involving Dr. Wallace Rankin (Miles Mander), who is running an adoption ring at the "Mercy Shelter" a charity maternity hospital, who persuades expectant mothers to sign away their babies for adoption. With the aid of a honest physician Dr, John Grimes (Joe De Santini), and Ruth Williams (Rochelle Hudson), an abused wife about to give birth, Burton exposes Rankin.