Summary
In the labyrinthine underworld of New York's infamous Pell Street, a figure shrouded in myth and menace, known only as "The Queen of Chinatown," is apprehended by the relentless forces of U.S. District Attorney Arnold Somers. This enigmatic woman, marked by a distinctive cross-shaped birthmark upon her wrist, is shockingly unmasked as Janice Waltham, once a beacon of high society, now tragically fallen. Her descent into the abyss of addiction and illicit trade has rendered her a prisoner, not merely of the law, but of the very suppliers who keep her submerged in the soporific haze of opium dens, perpetually preventing her recovery and thus, her potential betrayal. Despite grueling third-degree interrogations, Janice remains an impenetrable vault, her lips sealed against naming her criminal confederates. As her fate teeters on the brink of a lengthy incarceration, a serendipitous intervention occurs: Miriam Evans, whose brother George serves as the Assistant District Attorney, recognizes Janice as the heroic schoolmate who once saved her from the inferno of a convent fire. Seizing this unexpected connection, Somers orchestrates a calculated gamble, allowing Miriam to take Janice into her home, while subtly tasking George to court the former socialite, leveraging their burgeoning intimacy to extract the crucial names of the gang's overlords. A peculiar pact forms: as George diligently aids Janice in her arduous journey to reclaim sobriety, he, in turn, foregoes his own vices of cigarettes and coffee, a shared testament to burgeoning self-discipline. The ruse proves successful; George secures the damning information. However, the delicate web of deception unravels when a menacing Chinese operative exposes George's initial manipulative intent to Janice. Yet, what began as a calculated ploy has blossomed into genuine affection. George, now deeply enamored, confesses his original deceit, and in an unexpected turn of fate, their complex, morally compromised courtship culminates in marriage, binding them in a union forged amidst shadows and the glimmer of redemption.
Synopsis
In New York's notorious Pell Street district, U.S. District Attorney Arnold Somers' men capture Queen X, known to drug smugglers as "The Queen of Chinatown," a woman with a cross-shaped birthmark on her wrist. Summers recognizes her as Janice Waltham, formerly a prominent society woman. After becoming an addict and dealer, Janice was imprisoned in underground dens filled with opium fumes to prevent her from recovering and betraying her suppliers. She refuses to name her associates despite third degree questioning. As Janice is about to be sentenced to a long prison term, Miriam Evans, whose brother George is the assistant district attorney, recognizes Janice as the former schoolmate who rescued her in a convent fire. Somers allows Miriam to take Janice home and advises George to court her to get the names of the gang leaders. With George's help, Janice develops enough will power to kick her drug habit, while George, according to their pact, stops smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. After George secures the names, Janice, threatened by a Chinese cohort, learns about George's deal, but George, now in love, confesses this and they marry.
