This Is My Affair

In 1901, President William McKinley faces pressure from various figures, including Bank Examiner Henry Maxwell, to take action against a notorious gang of bank robbers. He secretly sends Lieutenant Richard Perry undercover, disguised as Joe Patrick, to gather intel without notifying other authorities.

Richard Perry, under the alias Joe Patrick, begins mingling with the gang members, establishing a relationship with Lil Duryea. He visits her at the casino in Saint Paul, Minnesota, while secretly investigating Batiste and his criminal activities.

Joe develops a romantic connection with Lil Duryea, but attempts to keep his cover by brushing her off when Batiste and Jock Ramsay are around. Lil is torn between her feelings and her loyalty to her stepbrother, Batiste.

Batiste, suspecting Joe might be involved in the bank robberies, invites him to join the gang. Meanwhile, Lil tries to persuade Joe to run away with her, prompting him to consider resigning from his mission.

Joe initially agrees to leave his undercover role and plans to run away with Lil. He writes a resignation letter to President McKinley but hesitates, unaware of the full mastermind behind the robberies. Lil is heartbroken and ends their relationship.

Joe alerts President McKinley about an upcoming gang robbery, hoping to catch the criminals. During the confrontation, Batiste is killed and Jock Ramsay is wounded while resisting arrest, escalating the investigation.

While in prison, Joe manages to persuade Jock Ramsay to reveal that the bank examiner, Henry Maxwell, is the true mastermind behind the robberies. However, McKinley is shot before he can receive Joe's letter exposing the conspiracy.

Joe confesses everything in a letter to Lil, including the identity of the mastermind. Despite his confession, McKinley's assassination leads to disbelief, and Joe and Jock are sentenced to death for their alleged crimes.

Lil visits Joe in prison, and he pleads with her to seek justice by informing Admiral Dewey about the conspiracy. She initially refuses but becomes determined to uncover the truth after McKinley's death.

Lil and Dewey approach President Theodore Roosevelt, who is skeptical until a secret message from McKinley is revealed, confirming Maxwell's guilt. Roosevelt then takes action based on this new evidence.

Roosevelt acts upon the evidence, before Joe's execution, and confirms Maxwell’s involvement in the criminal conspiracy. This leads to Joe’s exoneration and he is finally freed from false charges.

After the truth is uncovered, Joe and Lil are reunited. The story concludes with justice served and the criminal conspiracy exposed, restoring their relationship and honor.