Elton Gates, having served seven years for submitting to temptation with a bank's funds, is released. His uncle John sends him $500.00, with which to start life anew. He has hardly rested in a cheap lodging house when Detective Doolittle spies him and commences to make him an object of special scrutiny. The detective begins to trail him, hopefully awaiting his fall from grace. Gates watches a great house as the detective watches him. When the occupants, Mr. and Mrs. Rugly, leave, he goes to the door, rings, chats with Marie, the maid, and is admitted. He goes to the boudoir of Helen Rugly, his old sweetheart, and takes a photograph of her that he finds there. Going out he gives Marie a bill that he strips from his roll. The ex-convict is followed at every turn by the detective, who is now newly disguised. Guided by the photograph, he rents Bronson's Gallery for a week, paying for it in advance. These negotiations are puzzling to the detective, who now finds Gates quite alone in his new, short-leased home. When Helen Rugly finds her photo gone, she summons her maid and tells her they must get a copy. They visit the photograph gallery, where she meets and recognizes Gates. He tells her that he committed a crime for her sake and served seven years on expiation. The old love flames anew, and she rushes into his arms. The future looks good for them and the sneaking detective pockets his discomfiture and suspicions and allows them to go on their way to happiness without hindrance.