Harlem’s African-American population is being ripped off by the Rev. Deke O’Malley, who dishonestly claims that small donations will secure parcels of land in Africa.

Two nuns arrive unannounced in the small New England town of Bethlehem, where they recruit various townspeople to help them build a children’s hospital.

For as long as crime boss Albert Mendoza (Everett Sloane) has been running a notorious ring of hired hit men, District Attorney Martin Ferguson (Humphrey Bogart) has been hunting him down. But Ferguson cuts a deal with Mendoza's henchman Joe Rico (Ted De Corsia), and the mob boss is finally arrested. However, Rico dies mysteriously before he can testify against Mendoza.