AllMovie

Since Herbert Rawlinson's fans craved action, Mr. Rawlinson was ever eager to please. In fact, there was so much action in the star's 1917 vehicle Man Trap that there was barely any time left over for plot. To cover up the activities of a crooked political machine, the powers-that-be contrive to have crusading reporter John Mull (Rawlinson) fired from his job in disgrace. Even worse, Mull is railroaded into prison on a fabricated charge. But with the aid of a conveniently mislaid kerosene lamp, our hero makes his escape and sets out to trap the men responsible for his framing. Using the same "third degree" methods that had previously been imposed upon him, Mull strong-arms a confession out of the chief crook. He not only clears his own name but also saves Burton Grange (Jack Nelson) the son of the district attorney from a phony murder charge -- even though Grange is Mull's rival for the affections of heroine Bess Miller (Sally Starr).