Will, a detective, has a younger brother, who is becoming a crook. Will sees him sneaking away from a saloon, follows him home and catches him hiding jewelry. He makes him confess that he took it from a peddler in the saloon. Will thinks that the best thing for John would be a prison sentence to bring him to his senses. He handcuffs John and sends for the police. Their mother begs Will to give his brother another chance. Just as the police are about to enter, Will puts a chair through the window, takes the handcuffs off his brother and tells the officers that the burglar has made a getaway through the window. John promises to go straight.