Charlie plays an ex-convict who finds life on the outside not to his liking and leads him to breaking into a home with another thief (Wesley Ruggles).

Charlie is released from prison and is immediately approached by a man who claims to be a church pastor (Billy Armstrong) who'll help him go straight.

In reality, however, he's a scammer who frequently does disguises and swindles many other innocent people, including a drunk (James T. Kelley) who seems to be in little possession of his faculties.

Of course, the man takes advantage of the situation and slips out the five dollar note Charlie has been given upon being discharged, leaving him penniless.

He knows he has to pay for them all in the end, but, unaware that he has been swindled by the fake church pastor, eats more and more until the fruitseller (Leo White) becomes visibly angry.

Unfortunately, upon entering, Charlie realizes that the fruitseller from earlier also was the ticket keeper of this cinema hall.

When Charlie fails to pay off either, he gets kicked out of the cinema hall in a hilarious slapstick way.

While walking back, Charlie meets his cell-mate (Wesley Ruggles), who's also been discharged.

Unbeknownst to them, however, a cop in his rounds (John Rand), is watching their every move, and has gotten to know of their burgling plans.

Things get worse when the cop spying on them walks in on them, catching them red-handed, and their time seems to be up.

Once she regains full possession of her faculties, she steadily slithers up to the telephone and calls the police.

Barely a few seconds after, however, Charlie's cell-mate finds her, and has been left with no choice but to hold her at gunpoint.

But of course, the picture is mainly clever horseplay, beginning with Charlie's exit from prison, and ending with his flight from a policeman."