Major Terry O'Neill (William Powell) returns to Baltimore in 1919, after the end of World War I, expecting to get his old newspaper night editor job back.

However, the paper has recently changed owners, the job has been filled, and his friend and former editor, Allan Smith (an uncredited Will Wright), has been told to cut costs.

Leaving the building, he runs into two less-than-savory friends, "Fishface" (Rags Ragland) and "Three Finger" (Frank McHugh).

He crashes a high society wedding party in the hope of meeting businessman Lewis J. Malbery (Henry O'Neill).

When a guard insists on seeing his invitation, Terry grabs guest Kay Lorrison (Esther Williams) and kisses her, much to her surprise.

Embittered by the rejection, she takes over a charity Snarp set up dedicated to Saint Dismas, intending to steal the donations and place the blame on Terry.

When Terry leaves town on business, he falls ill and is cared for by Father Nolan (Lewis Stone).

It was based on the life of Dempster MacMurphy a Chicago newspaper executive who engaged in philanthropy under the name of St Dismas.