Peter Thurston enters upon married life, but soon a mania for gambling seizes him, and gradually he sinks lower and lower until he is ruined. The inevitable result is a separation from his wife and failing to obtain money either from her or his father, Peter becomes a burglar. Some time after, he breaks into his wife's apartments and the shock causes the woman's death. Meantime, his father has perfected a machine capable of giving great aid in the detection of criminals and this is applied to Peter, who has been arrested. His guilt is proved, but as he is led away, father and son recognize each other.