The movie follows the story of James Allen, a World War I veteran who returns home to his small hometown in Georgia with hopes of becoming a successful architect. However, he struggles to find work, and as the Great Depression hits in the early 1930s, he becomes a homeless drifter.
Desperate for money, James takes part in a robbery scheme with two other men, but they are caught and he is falsely accused and convicted of the crime. He is sentenced to ten years of hard labor on a chain gang, where he faces brutal conditions, beatings, and attempts to escape.
After serving two years on the chain gang, James manages to escape and starts a new life in Chicago under an assumed name. He becomes successful as a building contractor but is constantly living in fear of being caught and returned to the harsh reality of the chain gang.
Eventually, he is tracked down by a former chain gang member who recognizes him, and James is forced to flee again, leaving behind everything he has built in his new life. The film concludes with a title card stating that James Allen was never pardoned for his false conviction and lived the rest of his life as a fugitive.