Petty crook Long Harry is murdered after telling the Saint that he has been paid to steal documents for blackmail purposes by a villain known as The Scorpion. The Saint follows the blackmail victim to the Bird's Nest Club where he is to make his payment but Patsy, the girl who accepts the money, is herself later attacked and crippled and the Saint is sent a package containing a large scorpion. Patsy sends a message to the Saint that she has a telephone number which will hopefully lead to the exposure of the Scorpion.