Bill Wharton, his own worst enemy, because of his heavy drinking, has descended from being the best engineer on the division to a wiper. In a bar-room fight, one of the railroad men is killed, and Bill is arrested and sentenced to three years at hard labor in the State prison. Bill's son, Joel, who has left Bill when he was a mere boy, has risen rapidly in the railroad circles and is now division superintendent. Bill, realizing the disgrace to his son, should he learn of his penitentiary sentence, prevails upon his old friend, Robt. Hall, to write and tell Joel that he passed away suddenly. Hall, much against his will, does as requested. The three years pass. Bill is freed, and unable to resist going back to his old home, appears, one morning, hungry and tired, at the Hall kitchen door. He is kindly received by them and invited in. The same day, Hall receives a letter from Joel, stating that his work will bring him to his old home and he will avail himself of the opportunity to call upon Hall. Hall shows the letter to Bill. When Joe comes to see Hall. Bill stands outside, sadly, realizing that he is shut out from welcoming his son. Joel goes the next morning to inspect the yards. He is pleased with the way things look and is telling the yard superintendent so when he glances off and sees Alden, the assistant yard superintendent, drinking from a whiskey flask. He has Alden sent to him and tells him the company has no more use for him. Alden, in a drunken temper, swears vengeance, and that night goes to the Junction switch tower and, after overpowering the old towerman, throws the lever that will cause a collision between the eastbound flier and the special on which are Joel and his wife. Bill, who has started for the Junction, in order to watch Joel's special pass, sees that the switch is thrown and, realizing that something is wrong, hurries to the switch tower. There a fierce struggle takes place between Alden and Bill, in which Alden stabs Bill. Bill is barely able to throw the lever before he passes out, thus preventing the collision.