Jim Corrigan is puzzled by a series of impossible crimes. The Spectre realizes that the crimes are being committed by an etheric being. When he confronts the spectral criminal, he finds that his powers are not enough to defeat his foe. The Spectre links the thief to magician Dirk Rawley, but Corrigan saw Rawley at the same time the robbery occurred. The Spectre theorizes that if Corrigan can hit Rawley's physical self at the same moment as he hits the etheric Rawley, then the villain will be defeated. When Corrigan and the Spectre first attempt to execute their plan, the physical Rawley avoids Corrigan's blow, which allows his etheric self to imprison the Spectre inside a gem. The Spectre manages to escape, but Corrigan is suspended for the unprovoked attack on the magician. The Spectre and Corrigan try again. Rawley tries to avoid Corrigan again, but the police captain is able to land his punch at the proper time. Rawley is defeated, and the stolen goods are recovered. When robbery victim Hubert Desmond steps forward to provide proof of Rawley's ghostly robberies, Corrigan is reinstated, and the crook is prosecuted.