A well-fed, well-dressed Cynic of the club holds that at heart every man is a thief. The Philosopher took exception to his premise and finally wagered the Cynic that from his intimate knowledge of humanity he could pick a man from the masses that would readily demonstrate his theory, that most men are honest. The two clubmen then stroll into a park. There on a bench they observe one of that melancholy class known as the "down and outer," and the Cynic consents that the Philosopher use him for a test. After some little talk he says to the bench sitter, Wall: "I need a man willing to take a desperate chance. You look to me like the man." Wall, the "down," is a trifle disconcerted at the selection, but being hungry, homeless and penniless, is not afraid of any desperate chance. An hour later, in the presence of the Cynic, the Philosopher place a bundle of bank notes in an envelope, which he carefully seals, while being jeered by the Cynic for being a fool. At the latter's residence they arrange a brass jardinière beneath a window, leaving the latter unlatched. Returning to his home, the Philosopher opens the sealed envelope, removes the lawful currency, and substitutes the same size of blank paper and a note, together with sealed instructions to Wall in another envelope. Wall keeps the appointment, and with a great show of secrecy and mystery is given the two envelopes. He opens the one containing instructions, and learns that the other is very valuable. Desperately hungry, he gazes in the window of a restaurant and fingers the valuable packet, but he hurries on, and reaching the Cynic's residence, deposits the sealed envelope in the repository and then returns to his employer, the Philosopher. The Cynic, watching him, removes the packet from the jardinière, then, in seeming proof of his own statement that every man is a thief, resolves to take the money himself and declare Wall the thief, thereby winning the wager. He opens the packet and is dismayed at its contents, finding a note, "I win," signed, the Philosopher.
—Moving Picture World synopsis