J. Anthony Bowden, who comes from a long line of brave Bowden family men, is not considered hero material by his father. To make matters worse, Anthony's fiancée, Elma Saunders, completely agrees and is starting to waiver in her feelings. After the elder Bowden leaves for a sea voyage, Anthony is falsely arrested for the murder of an old man. Wanting to prove his manliness, Anthony does not protest, then later escapes from jail with his burly cellmate. Anthony then learns that the cellmate has a grudge against Elma's father and wants to kill him. Elma is kidnapped by the convict's gang, a group known as the "Murder Club." After a series of adventures, Anthony saves Elma, only to discover that the entire escapade was a ruse set up by his father, who hired an out-of-work opera company to pose as members of the murder club. Satisfied that Anthony finally has proven himself to be a man, Bowden and Elma warmly embrace him.