Meek, henpecked Alvin Atterbury is a chemist for a perfume factory. Unhappy at home and work, he begins keeping company with a co-worker, Myrna Duchane. He spends a great deal of time at home doing experiments in his basement.
Atterbury's wife disappears one day. A lodger, law student Judy Carlton, arrives unexpectedly, having been rented a room by Atterbury's wife. Judy and a neighbor, Mrs. Lazlow, both begin to suspect foul play in Mrs. Atterbury's absence and express concerns to Cantrick, the town sheriff.
Denying that anything is occurring in his cellar except work-related research, Atterbury is cleared of suspicion when his wife suddenly returns, having been away at a sanitarium. But as soon as all suspicions are averted, Atterbury begins to concoct a new experiment.
