On a train from Galveston to Fort Worth, a wealthy businessman named Wendell tells his wife Amelia that he forgot the lucky watch his father gave him and that she should continue on with their children and servants while he gets off and goes back to search for it.

Really, he goes back because the trip to Fort Worth and his "forgetting" the watch is all part of an elaborate plan and alibi for him to murder a man named Tate, another wealthy businessman, who also courted Amelia years ago and who, earlier that week, had drunkenly at a bar told Wendell he still desired her and would woo and wed her instantly if Wendell were to die. Wendell decided he needed to murder Tate to restore his and Amelia's honor after this comment.

Wendell pays a man to ferry him back to Galveston, which is on an island. The man warns Wendell it's a bad idea to go back to the island because there's a nasty storm coming, but Wendell won't listen. Wendell kills Tate in bed, breaking Tate's watch to freeze the time so he can claim he was on the train at the time of death. Then, outside, he realizes there's a flood and the afternoon train he planned to take won't run. There are bodies floating everywhere. He goes to his home, but his home starts to flood. He climbs on the roof and watches his home crumple. There, he's impaled by a piece of debris and drowns.

Amelia is in Fort Worth with Donald Maret, the son of a family friend. The two learn that both Wendell and Donald's father are among the dead. Amelia asks for Wendell's watch to be buried. When her butler leaves the room, she and Donald embrace. It seems they have been having an affair.