Mortmain, a surgeon, achieves success in the art of grafting severed nerves, bones, and blood vessels on a cat. The accomplishment of this procedure proves timely when Mortmain loses his hand as a result of injury. A donor is found to supply the needed hand and the operation is a success. However, ethical issues are raised when the donor dies as a result of the operation and his fingerprints tie Mortmain to a crime.