[1] The initial plot concerns the governor taking a bribe in exchange for pardoning a white collar criminal.

Vincent have to keep their marriage a secret when investigator, Daniel Breeden, uncovers evidence that may show that the governor took a bribe from John F. Holdstock, an embezzling financier he pardoned.

Sheldon goes to the Governor's Residence to tell Ruth about the situation, and that he is obligated to present the evidence to a legislative investigation committee.

Robert rushes to show it to Ruth, and they decide to take it to police headquarters to be compared with a sample from the governor's personal typewriter.

Ruth returns home to tell her father about the evidence, and he adamantly denies that he wrote the note, giving her his word of honor.

While she is there, Sheldon's secretary, Hazel Normandie leaves for the day, planning to meet Daniel, her boyfriend, outside the building.

They are staunchly defended by Representative Grosvenor, but McPherson demands articles of impeachment against the governor and intensive investigation of Robert.

Hazel is standing trial for the murder of Daniel, with the case about to go to the jury, but Ruth still refuses to testify, knowing that the revelation of her secret marriage with Robert would end his career.

Representative McPherson issues subpoenas for Willis and Robert to testify before the committee, where the existence of the typed letter apparently from the governor to John comes out.

[2] Director William Dieterle was not happy about the project, which he had to do for contractual reasons: he thought the script was poor, and wondered why Stanwyck hadn't rejected it - but Stanwyck wanted out of her contract with Warner Bros. as quickly as possible; she made only one more film for them, 1935's The Woman in Red, until she returned in 1941 to make Meet John Doe for Frank Capra.