When Sir Robert Carey discovers the Grahams' plan to kidnap Elizabeth Widdrington as she journeys home to her husband, he races to stop them. But while he's away, the man he has just sacked from his post of paymaster to the Carlisle garrison is found murdered and Carey's servant Barnabus is accused of the crime. His arch enemy Sir Richard Lowther attempts to frame Carey for organizing the murder and even his faithful Sergeant Dodd is prepared to believe he did it. Carey hurries to identify the killer before he is hanged for the crime.