Summary
In the labyrinthine corridors of the S. and X. Department Store, a seemingly innocuous ring becomes the crucible for Nan Perrine, a humble shop girl, whose life is irrevocably altered by a malicious act of corporate sabotage. Framed by a conniving colleague, Jenny, for a theft she did not commit, Nan finds herself ensnared in a judicial drama orchestrated by Irwin, the store's Machiavellian manager, whose pronouncements of her guilt are fueled by a dark, undisclosed agenda. Presiding over this burgeoning scandal is Kirby, the town's prosecuting attorney, whose personal convictions—a vestige of his friendship with Nan's late father—clash violently with the evidence manufactured against her. Despite his nascent belief in her innocence, Kirby's professional obligations are complicated by his wife, Violet, a woman entangled in a clandestine affair with Irwin, a liaison that casts a long, foreboding shadow over the proceedings.
In a gesture of conflicted mercy, Kirby defers Nan's indictment, bringing her into his household as a maid, a move that only intensifies the domestic turmoil. Here, Nan becomes an unwitting witness to Violet's escalating flirtations with Barrett, a dalliance that soon erupts into open conflict when Kirby intercepts a damning letter. The subsequent confrontation between husband and wife, punctuated by Kirby's anguished revelation and Violet's indignant retorts, leaves a dropped note in its wake—a fragment of paper detailing the ruinous implications of a 'scandal.' This ominous phrase, discovered by Nan, foreshadows the tragic climax of Irwin's life, as Violet, during a frantic, late-night phone call to Barrett, strikes and kills her lover in a moment of desperate struggle. A silent burglar, an unseen specter, witnesses the fatal blow.
Caught in the immediate aftermath, Nan is coerced into an attempt to dispose of the body, only for their macabre task to be interrupted by Kirby's untimely return. Violet, cornered and desperate, implicates Nan in the murder. Nan, a fugitive from a crime she did not commit, escapes through a window, leaving behind a bewildered Kirby and a seemingly reconciled Violet. The burglar, now a silent shadow, trails Nan, who, in a desperate act of self-preservation, stages a suicide on the treacherous rocks, leaving a fabricated note. Meanwhile, detectives unearth Irwin's true intentions in a note addressed to Violet, while the burglar, seizing an opportunity, attempts to recruit Nan into his criminal fold.
Violet, attempting to manipulate Kirby with calculated lies, eventually confesses to the murder under the weight of his relentless cross-examination, exposing her egregious betrayal of an innocent woman. Kirby, now armed with the truth, halts the search for Nan. The detectives, in a shocking twist of moral compromise, agree to cover up Violet's crime to protect Kirby's reputation, allowing Nan's 'suicide' to stand. Violet, oblivious to the extent of her husband's knowledge, prepares to abscond with Barrett. Nan, meanwhile, finds herself thrust into the chaotic underworld of a tough dance hall, where she encounters Barrett once more, appealing to him for salvation. A brutal brawl ensues, from which Nan and Barrett escape, aided by an enigmatic dancing girl, finding refuge in Barrett's looms.
Violet's desperate search for Barrett leads her to his refuge, where the shocking sight of him with Nan triggers a fatal heart failure. Kirby, discovering his wife's absence, is confronted by Nan, who, with Barrett's help, brings Violet's body home. A final, poignant scene unfolds as Nan recounts the harrowing events to Kirby, who, now fully cognizant of her profound sacrifices and unwavering innocence, absolves her not only of the murder but also of the initial theft, finally recognizing 'Her Great Hour' of profound, selfless courage.
Nan Perrine, a shop girl in the S. and X. Department Store, of which Irwin is the manager, is unjustly accused of stealing a ring which has been placed in the pocket of her coat by Jenny, another employee of the store. Kirby is the prosecuting attorney of the town and his wife, Violet, is in love with Irwin. Nan declares her innocence. Kirby, who was a friend of Nan's father, thinks she is innocent, but Irwin insists that she is guilty. Kirby agrees to take her as maid for his wife and hold up the indictment for a time. Violet is having a flirtation with Barrett when Nan is taken into the house. Kirby gets a letter warning him of his wife's flirtations. At a party in the evening Nan sees Barrett and Violet go to the piazza and Kirby discovers them. He expostulates with her, and when she answers indignantly he shows her the letter he has received. Nan, after they disappear, finds that she is standing on the note which Kirby has dropped and reads the line, "A scandal would ruin him." Barrett and Violet later meet on the rocks at the shore with Nan and Kirby both watching, unseen by each other, and they go separate ways after Barrett and Violet disappear. At night Kirby 'phones his wife that he will be at the court late and she 'phones to Barrett, who is out when she rings up, and Nan is surprised to see Irwin calling. While he is there Barrett calls up. Irwin demands to know who is calling. She refuses to tell; they struggle for the 'phone; she strikes Irwin with it and kills him. A burglar breaking into the house sees the affair but is unseen. Nan and Violet start to take the body out to the road, but Kirby drives up in his car. Violet, trapped, tells him that Nan has killed Irwin. Nan pleads with him not to have her arrested, and when his back is toward her. escapes through a window. Kirby and his wife have an affectionate scene, while the burglar follows Nan. Nan on the rocks writes a letter indicating suicide, with the burglar watching. Removing the body, detectives find Irwin's note to Violet. The burglar reads Nan's note, catches her and tries to make her agree to Join his gang. Violet tries to bluff Kirby about any connection between the note and the murder. He threatens arrest; she admits that she killed Irwin and he reproaches her with allowing an innocent girl to be charged with the crime. Detectives come back with Nan's coat and note and Kirby orders the search stopped as Nan is innocent. Detectives learn that it was his wife and tell him that the girl has faked a suicide; that no one will suspect his wife, and they let matters rest until morning. Then Violet packs up her jewels to go to Barrett. Nan is taken to a tough dance. Barrett is there and Nan appeals to him to save her. Barrett is attacked and the whole crowd fights. Barrett and Nan escape, aided by a dancing girl. He takes her to his looms. Violet goes to Barrett's room and is shocked to see him come in with Nan. She faints. Kirby at home finds Violet away. Nan tells Barrett they must get Violet home. Nan will take her there. As they get there in a cab, Kirby comes out and sees the driver carrying the body with Nan beside him; he slips back into the house and opens the door when Nan rings. She tells him the story. Doctors declare Violet died from heart failure. Kirby tells Nan this is the second time that night she has sacrificed herself to save him and he knows now that she did not commit the first crime, the theft.
