Woman Against the World

Farmer Plummer objects to his daughter Anna's love for hired hand Johnny Masters, and when he learns about the couple's secret marriage, he orders Johnny to leave. Johnny moves to the city and becomes a nightwatchman, and soon has enough money to send for Anna. He is killed by thieves before she arrives, however, and Anna, who is pregnant, moves in with her tyrannical aunt, Frieda Plummer. After Anna's daughter Betty Jane is born, Frieda insists that Anna give the child up for adoption. Anna is determined to keep her baby and finds a job, but when she arrives home to tell Frieda the good news, she learns that Frieda gave Betty Jane away to be adopted. Anna becomes hysterical, and when Frieda refuses to reveal the baby's whereabouts, Anna accidentally kills her. Anna is arrested for manslaughter and refuses to defend herself despite the advice of her attorney, Larry Steele. After Anna is convicted and sentenced to five years in a women's prison, Larry finds out about Betty Jane from one of Frieda's neighbors. He pleads with Anna to tell her story, and when he assures her that she might still find Betty Jane, Anna cooperates. Larry succeeds in obtaining Anna a parole, and Anna gets an apartment with her former cellmate, Patsy, who works as a hostess in a nightclub clip joint. Anna employs private detective James P. Flavin, whose exorbitant rates force her to join Patsy in her illegal practice of cajoling male customers to buy over-priced drinks. Flavin is a con artist, however, who with his assistant, Jimmy Daley, strings Anna along with false leads. Larry, who has fallen in love with Anna, is mystified by her reluctance to see him, but she is determined not to reveal her new profession to him. Flavin locates Betty Jane, who is now around five-years-old and lives with the Martin family. Flavin approaches the Martins, who believed that the adoption was legitimate, and tells them that the mother will accept a cash settlement in exchange for relinquishing control of her daughter. Anna learns about the crooked deal from Jimmy, but before she can find Betty Jane, she is arrested in a police raid on the nightclub. After Anna's release, she goes to the Martin home, where, overcome by the sight of Betty Jane, Anna kidnaps her, but soon returns the child and is arrested. Larry defends Anna, and his argument that she cannot be convicted of abducting her own child leads to Anna's acquittal. An arrest warrant is then issued for Flavin, who disappears. Later, in the judge's chambers, Anna is thrilled to learn that she will be able to regain custody of Betty Jane. The child is terrified of her, however, and cries for Mrs. Martin. Anna then realizes that the Martins have become Betty Jane's real parents, and relinquishes custody of her. Betty Jane kisses Anna farewell and leaves, and Larry comforts Anna as she cries.