Gaston Bouchard, sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony, escapes and meets Marcel Valmont on the train. He notices a ticket to South America and a large sum of money in cash in the young man's bag. He offers to take him around town while waiting for the ship to sail. When they arrive at the station, Gaston asks Marcel to wait for him at the bar while he sneaks out of the train to avoid the police. He then introduces his girlfriend Georgette as his sister, planning to steal Marcel's money. Georgette and Marcel fall in love and she tries to protect him from Gaston. He follows her to the cabaret where she sings. Gaston steals his money and passport. Marcel reveals that he robbed the bank where he works earlier that day. The theft will not be discovered until the next day and he would like to put it back in the safe in time. Georgette's friend Fanny calls the Police but they arrive too late to catch Gaston and they arrest Marcel for failing to show a passport.