The story takes place in New York City. The two main characters are a police detective called Barney Woods and a criminal called Johnny Kernan. The two men had been friends back in their hometown years earlier. Barney Woods is the only person who knows that Johnny Kernan committed a murder. Johnny, however, is certain that Barney will not arrest him. He points out that the detective still owes him $1,000 which he loaned to him many years before, Barney's sense of honor prevents him from arresting the criminal before clearing his debt. However, Johnny's certainty that he is untouchable leads to him becoming boastful and arrogant. He taunts the editor of a newspaper which had helped to solve crimes in the past, which ultimately proves to be his undoing.