A lawyer commits murder to protect his daughter from marrying
a bad man, and he arranges to get away with it.
Lawyer and former district attorney Richard Grant (Lionel Barrymore)
says that murder can be justifiable. Barbara Grant (Madge Evans)
greets her father at the train. Gordon Rich (Alan Mowbray) asks
Richard to change his will. Grant reviews Rich's past women, including
one suicide. Rich says he is going to marry Barbara, and Grant
says he'll stop it by murdering him. Tommy Osgood (William Bakewell)
tells Barbara that Rich is too old for her. At a dinner Rich announces
his wedding to Barbara the next day. Grant says he will do anything
to assure his daughter's happiness. Marjorie West (Kay Francis)
complains to Rich that he is marrying; but Rich says he always
comes back to her. Rich orders two black men to watch Grant all
night. Rich goes to Barbara's room and kisses her; but she pushes
him out and cries. Rich writes a note to the police that Grant
has threatened to kill him. Grant shoots Rich and takes the envelope.
The two men see Grant's shadow walking back and forth, and they
find him in his room. Marjorie screams, and Rich is found dead.
Grant has all meet in the living room. Tommy says he heard a
scream. Marjorie denies she screamed and says Rich was murdered.
Grant says it was a suicide, and they argue. Jimmy says that Rich
told him to watch Grant and says Marjorie screamed. Jimmy says
that Grant did not leave his bungalow. Rev. Hastings (C. Aubrey
Smith) says that Grant is most qualified to find the murderer.
Grant questions Barbara first, and she asks if he killed Rich.
Grant says that Rich was responsible and shows her photos of his
women. Barbara says she wasn't going to marry Rich, and Grant
laughs. Grant questions Hastings, who says that Marjorie screamed.
Grant questions Marjorie, who admits she loved Rich.
The boatman reports the murder to the police. Barbara goes to
Tommy's bedroom. He says he is suspected, because he loves her;
they kiss. Marjorie sneaks into Grant's room and discovers how
he made the shadow to fool the two men. Grant comes in, and Marjorie
goes out. Powder on Rich's blotter helps Marjorie read what he
wrote. Grant tells Marjorie that he killed Rich, and she will
inherit his money. She says Grant will be executed; but he says
she will be convicted of the murder and explains why. As police
arrive, Grant sends Marjorie out and removes the blotter. Grant
tells police it was suicide. Rich's rigor mortis fires the gun
that shoots Grant, who commends Barbara to Tommy before he dies.
The surprise ending provides poetic justice for the proud
lawyer who thinks the murder he committed was justified. Ironically
his daughter came to her senses without such an extreme measure.