His mother takes pity on Sarah Ham (who calls herself Star Drake), an unstable young nymphomaniac who has been arrested and jailed for passing bad checks.
Thomas' mother hires an attorney to secure the girl's parole and finds a boarding house where Sarah can live.
After Sarah gets kicked out of the boarding house for drunkenness, Thomas’ mother invites the girl to live with them despite her son's objections.
He ultimately persuades the county sheriff to search Sarah's room, hoping that she would then be arrested once the gun was discovered in her possession.
After a squabble he ends up fatally shooting his mother when she jumps in front of Sarah to protect her, encouraged by the orders of his father's ghost.