Federal Agent

Bob Woods, a federal agent, is about to leave on a vacation with fellow agent Jack Lynch when Lynch is murdered. Lynch had been on the West Coast investigating an international spy ring that is trying to secure a formula for a super-explosive created by American inventor Sanderson that could destroy the world. Bob enlists the help of agent Wilson and travels to the West Coast. Bob enters Lynch's old room just after it has been searched by a woman, who left behind the clasp to her handbag. By listening to the phonograph records on which Lynch made his regular reports, Bob learns the formula was to be sold to a man named Recard, who was expecting his wife and accomplice, Vilma Santos, to arrive soon on an Asiatic liner. Bob and Wilson meet the ship and see Recard and a woman disguised as a steward meet Vilma. The agents follow them to a hotel, where Bob discovers that the woman in disguise, whom they know only as Helen, is the woman who searched Lynch's room. While Wilson plants dictaphones in Recard's, Vilma's and Helen's rooms, Bob befriends Helen, convincing her that he, too, is after the formula, and they agree to work together. Later, however, he follows Helen to Lynch's room and forces her to confess her true motives. She tells Bob that she, too, wants to have Recard arrested. Claiming that she is the only one who knows Sanderson's whereabouts, Helen asks Bob to trust her for twenty-four hours. When he finds Wilson dead in his hotel room, however, Bob believes Helen has tricked him. After killing Wilson, the murderer tore from his hand a piece of paper containing an address that had been recorded on the dictaphone metal. The address, imprinted on Wilson's clenched fist, is still legible. Bob goes to the address and finds Recard, Vilma, Helen and Mullins, a radio operator. Bob realizes Helen is innocent and allows himself to be tied up in order to save her from the suspicions of Vilma, who is jealous of Helen's association with Recard. Helen and Recard go to Sanderson's laboratory, leaving Vilma behind to guard Bob. By convincing Vilma that Recard has been having an affair with Helen, Bob causes her to run out in pursuit of her husband. Using a knife Helen slipped him, Bob cuts himself free and, when Vilma returns, he knocks her out and handcuffs her, then hurries to Sanderson's. Bob arrives at the laboratory just in time to stop Helen from shooting Recard. As Recard tries to escape, Bob fights him and, in the chaos, a fire starts in the lab. Recard crashes into a collection of acids and chemicals and dies as the chemicals decompose him. Helen then tells Bob that she is Lynch's sister. Realizing they are in love, Helen and Bob marry and go on their honeymoon.