McCarthy was killed. The very day his slain body was found he and his son has violently quarreled. A little later the youth was seen following the father with a gun under his arm. McCarthy evidently has no enemies; there was no tangible motive for the crime to be connected with anybody but the murdered man's son. Yes, his son was innocent. By marvelous deduction and phenomenal precaution and intuition, Sherlock Holmes unraveled the startling mystery and fastened the guilt upon the real perpetrator of the crime. Jack Turner and his men are seeking gold in Australia. They are disappointed in their search and Turner is threatened with mutiny by the men. At that moment a convoy of a rich prospector passes and is held up and robbed of all his gold by Turner's man. James McCarthy, the owner, is sent away on a horse with his little daughter in his arms. Fifteen years later, James Turner is living happily in England, the owner of a large farm. Meeting McCarthy in poor circumstances, and fearing disclosure, Turner otters McCarthy money for his silence. Alice Turner and Jack McCarthy meet and fall in love with each other. Jack asks Turner for Alice's hand, but the boy is rejected, and, downhearted he goes to his father, to whom he relates his troubles. McCarthy has an idea. He goes to Turner and threatens to tell Alice of her father's past life if he will not consent to his daughter's marriage to his son. Turner again bribes McCarthy with money, but Jack has witnessed the bribery and he demands an explanation from his father, which is refused and an argument ensues. Two farm hands hear the argument. A few minutes later McCarthy is found by his son, murdered on the road. All appearances are against Jack as being the murderer of his father and Alice Turner, his fiancée appeals to Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock, in his investigation, picks up a pipe and a piece of broken bottle. This clue leads him to Turner, whom he immediately suspects. Under the grilling third degree of Sherlock, Turner confesses his guilt, and taking a revolver, ends it all, thus atoning for two crimes. Upon McCarthy's confession. Jack is released and he and Alice are made happy.