Matthews Brainerd, a wealthy contractor and head of a grafting political gang, has formulated a plan for a great scoop from the City Treasury in the form of the forging of city warrants. This is hanging fire, however, because his chief minions, McGrath and Williams, have been unable to find someone who would be willing to stand trial for the crime for a sum of money. The stool pigeon is eventually found in the person of Frank Pierson, a clerk in the Warrant Office, who is betrothed to Helen Knight, but their marriage has been many times postponed on account of his inability to improve her condition in life. Tempted by McGrath and Williams, Pierson agrees to stand trial for the crime for the sum of $50,000, with the understanding that after serving a few months in the penitentiary the ring will exert its influence to have him pardoned.