The play takes place in New York City during the panic of 1907. Gideon Bloodgood, a prominent banker, is on the eve of absconding, owing to the affairs of his bank being in a precarious condition. At this juncture relief comes in the person of Captain Fairweather, who has sold out his interests in the Mercantile Marine Company, intending to retire from the active duties of his profession. Fairweather comes to Bloodgood's bank; it is after banking hours, but he prevails upon Bloodgood to accept his money, amounting to $100,000, as a special deposit. News come that the captain who was to have taken command of Fairweather' s ship has met with a severe accident and is unable to sail. His old employers prevail upon Fairweather to make this final trip. He is about to go on board when his attention is attracted by the newsboys shouting "Extra." He buys a paper and is horrified to discover that Bloodgood's bank is in a shaky condition. He rushes hack to the bank and demands his money. Bloodgood and his assistant, Badger, who are dividing the money received from the captain, are startled by the entrance of the captain. He demands his money. Bloodgood tells him it is after banking hours, and to come the next day. The intense excitement brings on a fit of apoplexy, and the captain falls dead in the banker's office. They carry the body out on the sidewalk, and circumstances point to the fact that the captain dropped dead in the streets. Bloodgood prevails upon Badger to go out west and the captain's money saved the bank. Several years elapse and Captain Fairweather's widow and children are in destitute circumstances. The boy, Paul, tries to make a living selling newspapers, and his sister. Lucy, selling flowers. Bloodgood discovers that they are living in one of his tenements and he gives orders to his superintendent to dispossess them. Bloodgood is rolling in luxury and the family whose money he has stolen are reduced practically to beggary. In the meantime, Badger meets with hard luck in the west and is broke. While the captain was lying dead in the office Badger managed to secure the receipt that Bloodgood gave him for the money. An idea comes to Badger to return to New York and sell the receipt to Bloodgood. Badger manages with great difficulty to make his way back to New York City, and arrives at Bloodgood's mansion. With the receipt as a weapon, he makes Bloodgood promise to pay him handsomely. At this moment, Paul Fairweather, the son, in answer to an advertisement by Bloodgood for a servant on his estate, appears on the scene. Both Bloodgood and Badger discover that he is the son of the man they have robbed, and Bloodgood orders him from the house. Badger goes to a poor tenement, and in the next room by a strange coincidence, lives the Fairweather family. Bloodgood follows Badger and discovers his abiding place, and being afraid that Badger will blackmail him owing to the possession of the receipt, determines to set fire to the house and thus destroy the evidence of his crime. Mrs. Fairweather becomes despondent over their unhappy situation and determines to end it all by asphyxiation. Her daughter discovers this and they determine to die together. The fire that Bloodgood started is now making rapid headway and Badger in his room is overcome by the fumes. An alarm of fire is turned in and the fire department starts for the scene. Paul sees the flames and dashes into the house, resolving to save his family. With the assistance of a fireman, the women are carried out to safety. Passing Badger's room, Paul discovers there is someone inside. Bursting in the door he rescues Badger, who has managed to secure the receipt. Out of gratitude Badger tells Paul the whole story, and forces Bloodgood to make restitution. Badger is about to call in the police and hand his old partner into custody, when Paul, seeing the banker's great devotion to his only child, and thinking of the disgrace it would bring upon the girl, refuses to prosecute. The story ends happily with the Fairweather family in possession of the fortune their father left them, and Badger becomes a useful member of society.