A former underworld lawyer goes to work for the Federal Government, determined to bring 100 top criminals to justice.
Gambling czar Big Ed Pavanne's dying wish is to see his son Rick, who is at college in the Midwest.
An examination of syndicate kingpin Frank Neehan's operation turns up the name Phillip Hallson. Cain wonders if this is the Phillip Hallson who is a federal judge--until Neehan's case is suddenly transferred to Hallson's court.
Cain searches for a waterfront racketeer.
Cain finds it hard to believe that narcotics boss Lou Strode has really guit, even though Strode has a good reason--his son died as a result of dope addiction. Cain looks for evidence on which to get him indicted.
Cain arrives in a small but wide-open town, intent upon smashing the power of local vice baron, Herman Coombs. He gets nowhere fast with the police force--all handpicked by Coombs.
There's an accident at bootlegger Ed Hoagley's distillery, and Hoagley has the victim made to look like a hit-and-run case. The ruse works—until Cain identifies the man as one of Hoagley's boys.
Cain locks horns with mob chief George Vincent and Vincent sets out to have him killed.