Charles Maddern is prosecuted firmly by District Attorney Frederick Wrightman, for a crime of which he is guilty. He serves a portion of his sentence and is released. He is met at the gates by his daughter. There is but little food in the house, and Maddern goes to seek work. He falls, but as he is returning to his poor home, he sees a little child picking up her dolly which she has dropped in the street. An automobile is bearing down upon her, and the ex-convict tears her from its wheels, just in time. The child is the daughter of District Attorney Wrightman, but Maddern does not know this, and when a policeman tries to learn the address of the rescuer, he runs down the street and disappears into the crowd. When he reaches his miserable attic, he finds his daughter ill and hungry. He rushes to find food, and as he passes into the hall, he meets one of his fellow convicts who has also obtained his release. The ex-thief tempts the unhappy father by suggesting to him that they rob the house of the district attorney. Maddern consents. His daughter, in the other room, overhears this, and rises weakly and calls to her father, but too late. He is gone! She rushes after him, but in her weakened condition, can make little progress. Meanwhile the crook waits outside the window as Maddern enters the house of the district attorney, and starts to pry open the desk. The crook, on the outside, sees something moving in the shadow of the trees, and leaves the porch for a second. At that moment, the district attorney comes into his library, turns up the light, and covers Maddern with a revolver. He calls the police, and as they await their arrival, little Edith comes downstairs to get her dolly. She recognizes the man, Maddern. as her rescuer, and the father realizes that he owes this man the life of his child. Meanwhile, Maddern's daughter has been struggling along the streets, and arrives at the porch of the attorney's house just as the crook returning, fears his pal is giving him away to the district attorney, and slowly raises his revolver to shoot. The daughter stops him, and in the struggle which ensues, the crook is shot. At that moment, the police arrive, and the body of the man outside on the porch seems to explain the district attorney's reason for calling them. They bear the body away, and the broken man, Maddern, and his daughter, pass out into the world, assisted by the man whose duty it is to prosecute all criminals.