The Hoodlum Saint

Major Terry O'Neill returns from World War I to Baltimore and hopes to reclaim his old newspaper night editor job. He finds the paper has new owners and the position is filled. Disillusioned, he resolves to chase fortune by any means.

On the street after leaving the paper, he runs into Fishface and Three Finger, two unscrupulous former friends. They are arrested for bookmaking, and Terry spends his remaining money to bail them out and to cover Snarp's fine as well.

He crashes a high society wedding to meet Lewis J. Malbery and ends up kissing Kay Lorrison when a guard demands an invitation. Kay slaps him, but after his honest confession she warms to him. She introduces him to her uncle, Joe Lorrison, at the wedding.

Terry wins over Joe Lorrison with his ideas on how to fight Malbery, and lands a job with the Lorrison publishing operation. Kay works at the paper and their relationship begins to develop as he proves himself useful.

After masterminding a skillful newspaper campaign against Malbery, Terry quits his low-paying job to go to work for Malbery in New York. His disreputable friends Snarp, Fishface, Three Finger and Eel follow and open a pool room.

Three years into his New York tenure, Malbery promotes Terry to executive vice president. Flush with power, he returns to Baltimore to check on Kay and discovers her at a wedding, setting the stage for the next chapter.

Terry learns Kay is now the bride at a wedding there, while Dusty Millard, a nightclub singer, begins to catch his eye as a rebound.

Over time Terry becomes hard and cynical, and Kay returns later as a widow, showing renewed interest in rekindling what they had. Dusty remains a rival and a reminder of his new life.

When Snarp's bookmaking operation is uncovered, Terry secretly frees Snarp but arranges that his fortune is attributed to Saint Dismas, muddying the truth of events and his own reputation.

The Wall Street crash of 1929 destroys Terry's fortune, and nearly all his friends and associates become scapegoats, save Snarp and Dusty.

Dusty offers Terry an expensive bracelet she once gave him, but he turns her down. She then takes over a charity Snarp set up dedicated to Saint Dismas, intending to steal the donations and place the blame on Terry.

Terry leaves town on business, falls ill and is cared for by Father Nolan. Snarp warns him about Dusty and the old crowd, and Kay arrives. Terry pleads with Dusty to return the money, and when she sees his sincerity she gives back the donations and more.