Robert Forbes is a successful young solicitor. Staying with him and his wife Monica, are Robert's parents John and Julie Forbes. John a K.C., has just been elevated to the Bench. Julie's sister Mildred and her little girl Antonia are expecting. Monica has no mother; her father Ronald Blair, deserted her many years before and his whereabouts are unknown. Blair turns up unexpectedly, expecting to be accommodated and Monica very reluctantly consents. Blair is a smooth, plausible rouge and makes several attempts to extort money without success. John and Julie strongly suspect he is the wanted man for the murder of a girl in Liverpool. His arrest, however, would mean a scandal ruinous to both Robert and John. In spite of this, John realises that as a Judge he msut uphold the Law at any cost. Faced with arrest, Blair tries to blackmail John, but the Judge is firm. Despite Julie's pleading he refuses to connive at Blair's escape. Complete ruin now faces the family, but Fate steps in. Blair, attempting robbery, is accidentally locked in a huge strong-room safe with Robert's office is closed. John entering alone, realizes this. He is now both Judge and executioner, and Blair is left to pay the penalty of his crimes.