In 1892 New York, Lady Lou is a singer in the Bowery saloon owned by Gus Jordan. Her boss is running for sheriff, but he also runs a counterfeit racket – something Dan Flynn, his rival for office and for Lou, threatens to expose. Flynn tells Lou that a detective nicknamed “The Hawk” is on Gus’ trail. Flynn also has an axe to grind with Chick Clark, another of Lou’s paramours, now in prison. Lou currently has her erotic sights set on Captain Cummings, the handsome director of the mission next to the bar. It’s an explosive situation that comes to head after a young runaway tries to commit suicide in the bar. Lou comes to her aid and the young woman is drawn into Gus’ criminal business