Coaxed by sharpers, who seek to profit by his rustic innocence, the boy from the small town goes to the city with them and become, innocently enough, a successful swindler, but he learns of the deception and returns home, too ashamed to seek his old sweetheart. The crooks return to try a blackmail game, but Ernie's eyes are opened now. He cleans up in whirlwind fashion.—Moving Picture World synopsis

Swell Dresser and Slim McClearn, two Chicago confidence men, are forced to stay overnight in Compton Center. And by this incident does young Ernest Gledhill unconsciously beset his road with wrong. Innocent of all evil intent, yet puffed in his guilelessness by the tip from the confidence men that his cleverness should not be stifled in the little burg, he goes to Chicago and lands in with a gang of crooks. He believes his position is honorable, writing Eleanor, his sweetheart in Compton Center, that he is secretary of the Typemetal Club, soliciting funds, on commission, for a new club house. Put the game is caught in its infancy and Ernie, whose innocence is seen by the authorities, is advised to quit the gang. He goes back home to learn that his deceased aunt has made him her beneficiary. Ernie hesitates, however, in calling on Eleanor, feeling he is not worthy of her companionship. The two crooks return to town, having heard of Ernie's good fortune. They try to get "hush money" out of him, threatening him with exposure. Ernie, unwrought, tells them both, though they come separately, to return for his answer at five o'clock. A few minutes before five o'clock Eleanor rushes in, telling Ernie that he was cheated on a land investment; that property he had paid $25,000 for had been previously bought for $2,500. But Ernie is not the loser in the end, as a syndicate, wishing to use the property for a dam, gives him $50,000 for it. Ernie then opens his heart to Eleanor, confessing his miserable affair in Chicago. But she tells him that she trusts in his integrity. Inspired by new courage, Ernie pounces on the two crooks who return for their hush money. As he finishes pummeling them, a federal officer walks in and arrests them for violating the mail privileges.—Moving Picture World synopsis