Construction engineer Fred MacNeil meets waitress Joyce King at a hamburger stand and she accepts his invitation to see her home. Joyce is unaware she is being trailed by two detectives on the trail of her former husband, Walter Ferris. Joyce tells Fred that her ex-husband is a wanted criminal, but Fred waves aside her objections and they make plans to marry and honeymoon in Tennessee. Following the wedding, they return to the house after Ferris, accompanied by Peggy Athens, has broken in. Caught by Detective Reardon, Ferris kills the officer and escapes. McNeil and Joyce arrive immediately afterward and are accused of the killing by the neighbors. John Marlin, assistant District Attorney, railroads the lovers because he wants to use their prosecution to boost his drive for the District Attorney post. Fred is sentenced to hang and Joyce is given life in prison.