A respectable man's destructive infatuation leads to a murder accusation, while a deceptive underworld scheme exposes the real criminal.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Respectable Man Falls
Lloyd Norwood becomes infatuated with Goldie Lewis. His attraction draws him into a life of debasement and leaves him vulnerable to a murder accusation.
Key Events
Respectable Lloyd Introduced — Lloyd Norwood is introduced as a respectable man. Characters: Lloyd NorwoodLocation: Lloyd's respectable life
Lloyd Meets Goldie — Lloyd becomes infatuated with Goldie Lewis. Characters: Lloyd Norwood, Goldie LewisLocation: Unspecified social setting
Infatuation Deepens — Lloyd's attraction to Goldie grows stronger. Characters: Lloyd Norwood, Goldie LewisLocation: Unspecified social setting
Respectability Collapses — Lloyd falls into a life of debasement through his infatuation. Characters: Lloyd Norwood, Goldie LewisLocation: The underworld
The Gangland Murder
Joe the Swell is murdered by Pussyfoot Connor, but Lloyd is accused of the crime. The false accusation shifts the danger onto Lloyd.
Key Events
Gangland Threat Emerges — Joe the Swell and Pussyfoot Connor are linked to the gangland setting. Characters: Joe the Swell, Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: The underworld
Joe Is Murdered — Pussyfoot Connor murders Joe the Swell. Characters: Joe the Swell, Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: Unspecified crime scene
Lloyd Accused — Lloyd is accused of murdering Joe the Swell. Characters: Lloyd Norwood, Joe the SwellLocation: Unspecified criminal investigation
False Case Takes Hold — The false accusation hides Pussyfoot's responsibility for the murder. Characters: Lloyd Norwood, Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: The underworld
The Ghostly Confession
A disguised investigation enters the underworld and deceives Connor with the apparent ghost of Joe. Connor is pushed into confessing to the murder.
Key Events
Underworld Infiltration — A disguised investigation enters the underworld to expose the murderer. Characters: Lloyd NorwoodLocation: The underworld
Connor Is Confronted — Pussyfoot Connor is drawn into a deceptive confrontation. Characters: Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: The underworld
The Ghost Deception — Connor is duped into believing that he sees Joe's ghost. Characters: Pussyfoot Connor, Joe the SwellLocation: The underworld
Confession Extracted — The deception leads Connor to confess to the murder. Characters: Pussyfoot Connor, Joe the SwellLocation: The underworld
Jealousy at Midnight
A midnight dinner with Jack Frost is arranged to provide witnesses. Connor's jealousy causes him to interrupt the meeting and accuse Frost.
Key Events
Witnesses Become Necessary — The scheme requires witnesses to support the confession story. Characters: Jack Frost, Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: The underworld
Midnight Dinner Planned — A midnight dinner with Jack Frost is arranged to create witnesses. Characters: Jack FrostLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Jack Frost Meets the Disguise — Jack Frost encounters the disguised investigator during dinner. Characters: Jack FrostLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Connor Grows Jealous — Connor becomes jealous of the dinner involving Jack Frost. Characters: Pussyfoot Connor, Jack FrostLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Connor Interrupts Dinner — Connor enters the dinner and confronts Jack Frost. Characters: Pussyfoot Connor, Jack FrostLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Frost Is Accused — Connor accuses Frost of instigating Joe's murder. Characters: Pussyfoot Connor, Jack FrostLocation: Midnight dinner setting
The Criminals Exposed
The police, alerted to the scheme, rush into the dinner setting. Jack Frost and Pussyfoot Connor are arrested.
Key Events
Frost Is Accused — Connor accuses Frost of instigating Joe's murder. Characters: Pussyfoot Connor, Jack FrostLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Police Rush In — The police arrive after being alerted to the scheme. Characters: Jack Frost, Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Criminals Arrested — The police arrest the criminals involved in the scheme. Characters: Jack Frost, Pussyfoot ConnorLocation: Midnight dinner setting
Story Breakdown
Lloyd's Fatal Infatuation — Lloyd's attraction to Goldie begins the collapse of his respectable life.
Respectable Beginning — Lloyd Norwood is introduced as a respectable man.
Descent Through Desire — His infatuation with Goldie leads him into debasement.
Gangland Murder — Joe the Swell is killed, creating the central criminal mystery.
Joe Is Killed — Pussyfoot Connor is identified as Joe's real murderer.
False Accusation — Lloyd is blamed for the murder he did not commit.
The Underworld Infiltration — A disguise is used to enter the criminal world and seek the truth.
Disguised Investigation — The investigation proceeds inside the underworld.
Criminal Target — Pussyfoot Connor becomes the focus of the deception.
Ghostly Confession — Connor is manipulated into believing that Joe's ghost has appeared.
Haunting Deception — Connor is duped by the apparent ghost of Joe.
Truth Revealed — The deception extracts Connor's confession.
Jealous Midnight Dinner — A dinner with Jack Frost is used to create witnesses and provoke Connor.
Witnesses Needed — The scheme requires witnesses for the confession story.
Connor Interrupts — Jealous Connor enters the dinner and confronts Frost.
Police Intervention — The criminal scheme collapses when the police arrive and make arrests.
Frost Is Accused — Connor accuses Jack Frost of instigating the murder.
Criminals Arrested — The police arrest the criminals involved.
When respectable Lloyd Norwood becomes infatuated with moll Goldie Lewis, he falls into a life of debasement, which results in his being accused of the murder of gangland henchman Joe the Swell. Norwood's wife Mary, convinced of her husband's innocence, determines to clear his name. Disguising herself as a vamp and infiltrating the underworld, Mary extracts a confession from the real murderer, Pussyfoot Connor, who is duped by Mary into believing that he sees the ghost of the murdered man. Later, in order to have witnesses to the story, Mary takes a midnight dinner with gang leader Jack Frost, arousing the jealousy of Connor, who enters and accuses Frost of instigating the murder. The police, alerted to the scheme, rush in and arrest the criminals.
