Rick is pledging a snooty fraternity at college. He feels out of place because he's a poor kid from the wrong side of town and picks up extra money by fighting in the ring. He doesn't want his potential fraternity brothers to find out about his background or how he makes his money. Trouble arises when the rich, spoiled girlfriend of one of his fraternity "bros" comes on to him.

After his death sentence is commuted to life in prison, John Resko is transferred from Sing-Sing to Dannemora where, with the help of a humane prison guard, he becomes a rehabilitated man and a successful painter.