At 10 years old, Owen becomes a ragged orphan when his mother dies. Abusive next-door neighbors the Conways take him in, and by 17, Owen has learned that might is right. At 25, he's a career gangster: loitering, gambling and drinking in dens of iniquity. Marie Deering arrives in Owen's area, eager to empower the impoverished, gang-affiliated youth through education. Owen slowly but surely leaves his old life behind, choosing the narrow path- all the while falling in love with Marie. Skinny, who's taken over Owen's role in the gang, reappears to him, spelling trouble.

Roma Winnet, the author of Jealousy, loves and marries Bob Lawson, but worries that her own difficulties with that emotion will destroy their relationship. When Dave Blake enlists in the secret service, he entrusts Ethel Clarke, his girlfriend and Roma's best friend, to Bob's care, an arrangement that immediately causes Roma to fret.