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- Pinto Ben is a pink-nosed cow-pony. A hundred head of cattle are rounded up for beef to be shipped alive to Chicago. Ben and his master, with Segundo Jim, are put in charge. In the Chicago stockyards, men who don't know range-bred cattle from a herd of mountain goats, calmly inform Jim and Ben's master that the steers are to be driven into the big pen. At the same instant two or three stock hands run behind the herd and begin shouting and waving their arms to start the cattle. The beasts, a thousand strong, with horns and hoofs beating the air, bellowing their rage, glaring with bloodshot eyes, thunder into the chute. The two men in front prepare for their death ride. Suddenly Pinto Ben flattens himself before a high, iron-bound gate, and leaps. The pony cleans the gate. The great wave of scorching breath falls back on the other side. Ben's master finds himself sitting on the ground, the head of his dying horse in his lap. Once the pony tries to pull himself up on his broken legs. But be falls back and breathes his last.
- Col. Trent speculates in cotton and loses, and is compelled to borrow $1,500 from Beal, for which he gives his I. O. U. payable in one month. Edith Trent is in love with John Craig. Beal is determined to win her, and his loans to her father are made with the idea of getting Col. Trent in his power, Trent is forced to sell three negro slaves, among them his faithful Jim. Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as president of the United States, and rumors of impending war create much excitement. Beal buys the three slaves, and takes them to his plantation. Trent continues gambling, and Beal refuses to advance him any more money, until his notes have been paid. The war breaks out and Beal demands payment of his notes. He agrees to cancel the indebtedness if Trent will persuade Edith to marry him, which proposition is indignantly declined by Trent. Edith overhears the conversation, and to save her father promises to marry Beal. She writes to Craig: "Dear John: Circumstances over which I have no control make it necessary for me to break our engagement. I cannot explain the reason. Please do not try to see me. Edith." Craig is worried and angry, and endeavors to see Edith, without success. Beal's overseer has always treated the slaves with brutality, and they rebel and turning upon him one day give him a severe beating. The ringleader is caught, and Beal, furious with anger, gives him a terrible beating, which is stopped by Edith, who is horror stricken at his brutality and breaks her engagement. In revenge, Beal determines to foreclose his mortgage on the Trent homestead, and Jim, the slave, makes up his mind to save his old master by destroying the notes. Beal catches him in the act, and a terrific struggle ensues. Jim breaks away and escapes, and Beal puts bloodhounds on his track. Jim runs to Col. Trent and tells him the story, and the Trents try to save Jim from his pursuers, spiriting him to the swamp where his trail is lost. Three years later Craig is a captain in the southern army. The Beal plantation is occupied by the northern troops, and Capt. Moore, the Union officer, receives word that Capt. Craig is sending dispatches through the lines by a negro messenger and is instructed to catch him. The negro referred to is Jim, who has attached himself to Craig. The message he carries is one to Edith, telling her that he will make his way through the lines on the following Wednesday night. Jim is captured, and Beal is jubilant as a trap is set for Craig. The appointed hour arrives, and Beal comes riding along in the moonlight. A soldier takes careful aim and fires, and the horse goes down. Craig darts into the bushes. In his anxiety to see Craig captured or killed, Beal has pushed forward and is struck by one of the bullets sent after Craig, and dies. Craig makes his way to Edith, and is joyfully greeted by her. Jim escapes and rushes to the Trent home, warning Jim that the Yankees are coming. Escape seems shut off, when the negro makes Jim change coats and hats with him and dash out. The Union soldiers take after him and Craig goes the other way. A thrilling chase takes place, the negro being finally wounded and captured, and he dies with a smile on his face, pleased at having saved Craig. After the war Craig erects a tombstone over grave of the negro reading: "Greater love hath no man than he who layeth down his life for a friend."
- Two-Gun Hicks, a particularly deadly type of gun fighter, with an absolute disregard of human life, arrives a stranger at Moose Gulch, where he calmly shoots Bad Ike, the bully, who has tried to make him drink with him. Hicks is not interested in the dance hall girls, but when he sees the "decent" woman, the wife of the town drunkard, he determines to secure her, she repulses him. Hicks, unable to understand her loyalty to her husband, finally concludes that she must love the drunkard, and this belief alone prevents him from killing Jenks. Hayes, a gambler, also desirous of securing Jenks' wife, incites the drunkard against Hicks believing the latter will kill him. Jenks, crazed by drink, gives Hicks until five o'clock the following afternoon to get out of town, threatening to shoot him if he is not gone by that time. Hicks, seeing his chance to win the woman, decides to kill Jenks. That night Mrs. Jenks visits him and exacts a promise from him to spare her husband. He gives in to her because the only true love he has ever known is for her. The next afternoon at five o'clock Jenks and the villagers wait for Hicks to either crawl or fight, but despite the temptation, the two-gun man leaves the town quietly, and Jenks is congratulated as a hero. In the Jenks cabin the grateful woman offers up a prayer for the two-gun man as he slowly rides over the hills He has passed out of the life of Moose Gulch forever.
- Mildred loves her grandfather, Civil War veteran Jabez Burr, but her new stepmother wants her to be rid of his influence, because of his drinking.
- An Easterner wins his battles in the West by using his fists.
- Col. Hamilton takes pathetic leave of his daughter, Edna, and his young son, James, and goes to the front to fight for the Southern cause. The opposing armies are seen in thrilling battles. One day Capt. Blake receives orders to go on a foraging expedition, and arrives at the Hamilton home. The soldiers make short work of the chicken coop, Don, little Jimmie's pet horse, is taken. The old Negro servant puts up a stubborn fight to save his young master's pet, but is knocked down by a soldier. Further punishment Is prevented by Capt. Blake, who arrives upon the scene. Jimmie rushes to the captain and begs and pleads for his horse. The tenderhearted young officer is touched by the tears and grief of the boy, and finally gives him back the animal. Edna sees Capt. Blake about to take a drink at the well and, nerved by her hatred of the North, rushes out and dashes the shell from his hands. Amused by the little spitfire, Blake solemnly bows and says: "In the North our men are gentlemen, and the women, ladies," and walks away, Edna, ashamed of her conduct, battles with her emotions for a few moments, and calls the Captain back, offering him a drink with her own fair hands. After his departure, Edna learns of his kindness in saving Jimmie's horse, and the captain did not suspect the impression he had made on her heart. Some time later the Union Army is in desperate straits, being attacked by a heavy force. The troops tight against tremendous odds, refusing to surrender, and Capt. Blake volunteers to pierce the enemy's lines and deliver a message to the Union general commanding the other wing to come to the rescue by consolidating the forces. Blake makes a thrilling ride, pursued by Confederate soldiers, who shoot his horse and wound him. Weak and staggering, he finds himself near the Hamilton home and drags himself to the door, Edna and Jimmie do everything in their power to make him comfortable, and he is saved from capture by a clever trick, blacking his face and hands and putting him in the Negro quarters. The pursuing soldiers are told by old Mammy that he is her son who has been shot by the man they are searching for. The booming cannon in the distance greatly distress Blake, who realizes the predicament of his comrades. In desperation, he asks Jimmie to do him a favor and makes him promise on his word of honor not to tell any one. The grateful boy is staggered by the request Jim makes, of riding to the Northern general with the message, and refuses at first, but in splendid dissolving scenes visions of his pet being restored to him are seen, and he agrees. The boy makes a daring ride, and the Union forces are saved. The Confederates are driven back through the town, and Col. Hamilton, to save himself from capture runs into the Negro cabin, where he is astounded to find his daughter and a Northern officer. In an instant his gun is in his hand, but he is stopped by Edna, who explains the situation. The pursuing Northern soldiers arrive at the door and Blake hides Hamilton behind the bed, and informs the soldiers that no one is there. He rejoins his command, and rides away. After the war is over Blake comes back to the Hamilton home and is joyfully received by Edna.
- Tucson, a gun fighter, is the terror of the town. Rhita, the gun fighter's girl, is extremely fond of their baby, whom Tucson detests and considers an unwelcome intrusion. Tucson commands Rhita to get rid of the baby, and she, afraid to disobey him, leaves it on the bank of a stream, where it is found by Ada Lawson. Ada takes the baby home and she and her husband become very fond of it. The Lawsons are homesteaders and decide to settle on grazing ground just outside the village. They establish themselves and soon afterward are ordered by Santro, a Mexican rancher, to vacate. Lawson refuses to do so and Santro hires Tucson to kill him. Tucson horsewhips Lawson in the village store and orders him never again to enter the village. A few weeks later, however, exhausted supplies make it imperative that Lawson return to town. Tucson is informed of Lawson's presence in town and prepares to carry out his agreement with Santro. Rhita, determined that her baby shall not be deprived of a good man's care, resolves to sacrifice the gun fighter. She fastens his pistol in its holster by means of a rawhide thong, thus making it impossible for Tucson to draw his gun. Tucson proceeds to the village store, where he confronts Lawson. Lawson pulls his gun and shoots Tucson, who is unable to draw his gun.
- When the Civil War begins, young Billy runs away from home to enlist in the Northern Army as a drummer; he's wounded in battle and taken prisoner. He manages to escape and deliver an important message to his commanding officer, but loses his life in the process.
- Cash Parrish, a bandit, is betrayed to the sheriff by his pal, Jud Ross, who covets Parrish's treasure and his wife, Rose. Cash, however, makes his getaway. He is pursued by the posse. Meanwhile, Jud has gone to the cabin, where he finds Rose packed up and ready to leave the country on her husband's return. Cash has given her his promise to reform, and she has written a letter to the sheriff, telling him this, and revealing the hiding place of the loot. Jud tries to force his love-making upon Rose who protests. She uses a long, sharp pin in self-defense. The bandit, wounded and enraged, tries to break in the door of the bedroom, where she has barricaded herself. Parrish, running toward his own cabin, is shot at by the posse, the bullet entering the cottage, killing Jud. Parrish and Rose escape on Jud's horse. The sheriff is satisfied with the letter and the loot.
- While Shorty is out looking for cattle thieves his horse stumbles and falls, and Shorty is thrown and injured. He is captured by a bunch of Mexican rebel soldiers and put in jail. He is seen by Anita, a beautiful Spanish girl, whom he sends to notify Bud Simms, the ranch owner. Anita has taken a great fancy to Shorty and breaks the rules by taking food to him. In the meantime an important letter has come to the ranch for Shorty. The boys open it and find that Shorty has been left a fortune on condition that he marry a certain woman within two weeks. The boys conceive the plan of marrying Shorty to the lady, who is on her way to the ranch, by proxy. Nell Holden, the lady in question, who is rather a pretty girl, fearing that she may not like the looks of Shorty, disguises herself as an ugly old maid so that Shorty will refuse to marry her. The proxy is Tom Crowne, a very handsome young cowboy, who falls in love with Nell, when he sees her with the disguise removed. Nell plans with the sheriff, who is also the magistrate, to insert Tom Crowne's name in the marriage license instead of Shorty's so that Tom becomes her legal husband instead of only by proxy. Anita notifies Simms of Shorty's whereabouts and the cowboys rescue him. Shorty is very much surprised to find on his return that he has been married by proxy, but is no more surprised than Tom Crowne when he finds that instead of being Nell's husband by proxy, he is really her legal husband.
- Jimmy Mullen, a bootblack, secretly admires Mary Denton, a factory girl of Sunshine Alley. He rescues her from a gang of loafers, putting up a fight with the ringleader. The fight is witnessed by Bill Cross, a fight promoter, who is always on the lookout for new material, and sees a wonderful future in Jimmy. Jimmy is arrested and when Mary explains to the judge why Jimmy was fighting, the judge paroles Jimmy in Mary's care. Mary has an invalid mother, for whom she is very anxious to buy an invalid's chair. Jimmy, when approached by Bill Cross to go into training, breaks his promise not to fight, so as to get money to help Mary buy the chair for her mother. The fight is witnessed by the judge who sentenced Jimmy. When Jimmy is brought before him for having broken his parole he remembers the arduous fight that Jimmy put up. When Bill Cross explains to the judge that Jimmy went into the fight just for the money because Mary needed it. He sentences Jimmy to either marriage with Mary or ten years in jail.
- Rev. Horace Brightray, pastor of a New England village church, is ordered by his physician to seek another climate. He goes to Agua Caliente, where he attempts to hold services in the hotel dining room, but nobody attends but the hotel clerk and maid and dance-hall girl Bubbles. The proprietor of the Legal Tender saloon is very bitter toward Horace and commands them not to attend services. Horace is soon out of funds and ejected from the hotel. Sick and hopeless, he goes to the Legal Tender and slaps Frosty across the face with his hat, feeling sure it will mean death to him. Bubbles protects him and as he faints away, Frosty tells Bubbles he will make one play and if Horace wins, Bubbles may take care of him, but if he loses, Horace wins and Bubbles takes him to Frosty's cabin where she nurses him back to health. As a great concession, Frosty tells Horace he can have the dance hall for one hour on Sunday to hold services. All the dance-hall girls and gamblers attend the service. That night the Horned Toad, a bad man from Bitter Creek, comes into town. He reels into the saloon and roars at Frosty to line up at the bar. Frosty calmly draws his gun and points to the door and the Horned Toad backs out. Outside, he steps to the window and shoots at Frosty. Frosty runs from the saloon and chases the Horned Toad, who runs up behind a tree in front of Horace's cabin and as Frosty approaches, Horace steps from the cabin, between Frosty and the Horned Toad, and is shot. Before he passes out, Frosty asks him to marry him and Bubbles, and Horace performs the ceremony. Afterwards, Frosty tacks up a notice on the door of the Legal Tender that states that it is closed forever by the order of God.
- Jim Hardy, serving time for safe cracking, receives notice that his term has expired, and tells his cellmate, Rusty, that he is going to start life anew and keep straight. Rusty laughs at him and tells him he will not get a chance to reform, as the police will hound him to death. Hardy receives a new suit of clothes and five dollars, and is met up the prison door by his daughter, Helen. He gets work in a grocery store, but a detective recognizes him and tells the proprietor that he is harboring an ex-convict, and Hardy is discharged. Helen has been working and saving her money, and she suggests to her father that they go west and start life anew in the west. Hardy is given a chance to make good, being employed as a watchman in the little western bank. Lieut. Baker, of the U. S. Cavalry, meets Helen, and the two young people fall in love. Hardy writes to Rusty as follows: "Dear Pal Rusty: Got a good job as a night watchman in a bank. Don't laugh. It's on the square. Can you imagine me watching a safe with twenty thousand in it and dead easy to crack, but I'm temptation proof as long as I can let the Amber Devil, whiskey, alone. Look for a letter from you shortly. Your old pal, Jim Hardy." A week later Rusty takes advantage of visiting day to secure access to the lockers, and escapes dressed in a guard's uniform. He makes his way to Hardy's town, and is taken in by the latter and fed and clothed. Detective Burton, on the trail of the escaped convict, follows his man. Rusty sees him in a saloon and rushes back in fear to Hardy. He plies Hardy with whiskey, and tells him that the detective will make him lose his Job, and that he had better crack the safe and get away with the money. Helen tries to interfere, but Rusty roughly tells her to keep still or he will tell her sweetheart her father is an ex-convict. That night they attempt to rob the bank. Rusty keeps watch while Hardy enters and blows open the vault doors. The detective is on the job, however, and Hardy finds himself looking into the barrel of a pistol held by Burton at the window. Rusty sneaks up behind the detective and deals him a crashing blow, rendering him unconscious. Helen, who has mustered up courage at the last moment to attempt to stop the robbery and save her father from crime, rushes up and is attacked by Rusty. Hardy runs to the defense of his daughter and in the scuffle is shot and killed, Rusty making his escape. The banker believes that his watchman has been killed by the burglar. Helen confesses everything to Lieut. Baker, who goes to the detective, when he has regained consciousness and persuades him to remain silent regarding Hardy's past. He tells Helen that she is not to blame for her father's sins, and marries her. Rusty flees into lands occupied by hostile Indians, and is attacked, meeting a tragic death.
- John Warner, the newly-elected Governor, had, as district attorney, caused the execution of Horgan's sons, thus making him his most bitter enemy. Horgan, boss of the First Ward, owns a high-class saloon. Donald Warner, John's brother, a reckless dare-devil sort of boy, though a very lovable one, is a frequenter of Horgan's place, which he visits with Dolly, a girl of the underworld. Harris, a dissipated young gambler, is in love with Dolly and very jealous of Donald. In a fit of drunken jealousy he shoots Dolly while she is in a private room of Horgan's saloon with Donald. To "get even" with John Warner, Horgan, though giving false evidence, has Donald convicted of the crime. Donald is sentenced to death by the electric chair. On the night of the execution, Horgan goes to John Warner's office at 11.45 and tells John that Donald is innocent of the crime. He does this to torture John, as he has had the telephone wires to the prison cut and thinks it impossible for John to save Donald. After a desperate struggle with Horgan, John rushes to the power house and has the current turned off, plunging the entire city into darkness and making it impossible for the execution to take place. Donald has already been strapped into the chair, but when the prison warden realizes the power is off he orders Donald returned to his cell. John rushes from the power house to the prison, where he explains to the warden and Donald is taken home to his heartbroken mother and fiancée. Horgan, who has gone insane, is taken to the hospital.
- "Bat" Peters, reformed gunfighter turned prospector, travels to Chicago to collect on a business deal with a mine promoter who turns out to be crooked.
- Jack Williams and Nellie Wayne are in love, but her father favors the suit of a rich easterner, Wm. Ford, who is vacationing in the west. Jack resents the latter's attentions, and during the argument, knocks him down. Ford attempts to draw a gun, but the two are separated. A horse thief gets away with Ford's horse, and as Jack has left a few minutes before, Ford thinks he has taken the animal. As Jack is rolling a cigarette by the roadside the thief asks him for a match, and when Jack goes to comply with his request, he leaps on Jack's horse and gallops away. Jack mounts the stolen horse and starts in pursuit, but is left behind. The posse catches up with him and he is accused of being a thief. When he is brought to the sheriff's office, Nellie pushes him through a door and covers his escape with a gun. A reward is offered for his capture and Nell determines to win the money. She goes in search of the real thief and by a clever lariat throw, holds him prisoner while she ties him to a tree. She then captures Jim and secures the reward, after which she tells the sheriff where to find the thief, who is taken prisoner. Jack is released and elopes with Nellie. Her father and Ford arrive too late to prevent the marriage, and the old man gives his blessing, while Ford goes away in a rage at having been outwitted by a cowboy.
- Don Jose is a rich land owner, having in his employ a large number of peons. His beautiful daughter, Sylvia, is in love with Rafael, a sculptor, and she meets him clandestinely, despite the violent opposition of her father, Don Jose is an arrogant, surly man and a heretic, whose power is feared by the peons, and who shrink from him in superstitious dread. Working at starvation wages, the peons muster up courage to ask for more pay, and Pedro is selected as spokesman. His demand throws Don Jose in a rage, and he strikes Pedro a heavy blow across the face with his quirt. As the peons depart, vowing vengeance upon their brutal employer, the bell in the church belfry is seen ringing the Angelus, and the people drop to their knees in reverent devotion. Father Marquette, the good priest of the parish, is much beloved by his people, and makes an appeal to the land owner on behalf of the peons, but is curtly ordered to mind his own business. A dramatic scene takes place between them. Mike Flanagan, in charge of the construction gang of a railroad arrives and begins to lay tracks, the right of way extending through Don Jose's property. His orders to the men are disregarded, and he commands his people to attack the gang. A thrilling encounter takes place, which is stopped by Father Marquette, who rushes into the melee holding aloft the crucifix, and exhorting his people to desist. They obey him, and Don Jose, raging, leaves the scene. The nest day when the peons come to work they are discharged by Don Jose. It does not take long for the poor people to feel the pangs of hunger, living as they are from hand to mouth, after their small incomes are cut off. The priest shares his food with them and solicits alms to relieve the starving. Rafael has been making a statue of the Madonna, and Sylvia is posing for the subject. As it nears completion they exhibit it to the priest, who gives his blessing to the young lovers. Pedro's child is very sick, and is frequently visited by the priest. It finally succumbs and passes away, the priest ministering the last rites of the church. During his absence Rafael calls the people, and they carry the completed statue to the priest's garden. He is most agreeably surprised, and is beaming upon the assembled parishioners when Don Jose appears. When he learns that his daughter has posed for the statue he becomes mad with rage, and seizing an iron bar he breaks the statue to pieces. The people are thunderstruck at the sacrilege, and stare in horrified amazement, as Don Jose grabs his daughter's arm and drags her home. The sculptor is overwhelmed with grief and rage, and is with difficulty restrained, and it requires considerable effort on the part of the priest to quiet his flock. Don Jose secretly makes a trip to the Indian village, and explains to the chief that the railroad is the forerunner of an influx of white people who will destroy his hunting grounds. It does not take much persuasion to make the Indians believe they are being wronged, and when Don Jose tells them that the solution of the difficulty is to drive the railroad gang out of the country, they decide to follow his advice. Flanagan has wired the superintendent of the road regarding the attack by Jose's men, and has received instructions to go ahead with his work, and if interfered with to telegraph the commander of the fort, who had been instructed to assist him. The Indians come to the outskirts of the village, where they are met by Jose, who gives them final instructions for the attack. He is accidentally seen by Pedro, who hides in the bushes. With wild shouts the Indians charge into the railroad gang. The men grab their rifles and retreat to the village, where they take refuge in the huts. Flushed with their victory, the Indians attack the village, and the priest opens the doors of the church to the women and children, who join him in prayer while all about them the battle is going on. Flanagan manages to get a message to the fort, although the Indians shoot the operator. The troops are soon galloping toward the scene of battle, which rages with indescribable fury. The horses are not spared, and over the top of a hill the soldiers hurl themselves onto the redskins, who put up a stubborn resistance but are soon killed or captured. Pedro tells of Jose's responsibility in the matter, and the maddened populace goes to his home. Rafael, out of pity for Sylvia, runs ahead to warn Don Jose, but he is not there. Terror-stricken with the results of his work, Don Jose has taken to the woods, where he is found. His piteous cries for mercy fall upon deaf ears, for a hundred hands reach for him at once, and he is dragged away by the heels to suffer well-merited punishment.
- While John Burr, an inventor, is away on a business trip, his wife, Vivian, elopes with Herbert Rawson, his friend, secures a divorce and afterward marries him. Burr, crazed with grief, goes from bad to worse. Finally as a last resort, he joins the army. Ten years later, Herbert Rawson, with his wife, arrives at Fort McRae on business for the government, where Burr is stationed and is going under the name of Corporal Redding. Burr swears vengeance on Rawson and makes up his mind to kill him. While the Colonel, Rawson and Vivian are on a visit to the surveyor's camp, they are attacked by the Indians. The colonel tells Rawson and his wife to go with Corporal Redding, alias John Burr, back to the post before they are surrounded. Discovering that they will be cut off before reaching the fort, they decide to take refuge in an abandoned log cabin. Here Burr reveals his identity, telling Rawson that he is going to kill him. Vivian pleads with him to spare her husband. While Burr is fighting to protect Vivian, Rawson slips out of the cabin, hoping to escape, but is killed by the Indians. Seeing that they are outnumbered and will undoubtedly fall into the hands of the Indians, Vivian makes Burr kill her and then himself.
- Tony Cuneo, a handsome Italian musician, though possessed of wonderful talent, is in straitened circumstances, and "beats" his way west on a freight train. He meets "Shorty," a devil-may-care young fellow, who is also riding at the expense of the railroad company, and during a quarrel Tony pushes Shorty from the top of the car while traveling through barren western country. Shorty wanders about badly hurt, and is found by a troop of soldiers who carry him to the fort. He gets over his injuries and enlists in the army, and becomes the orderly of Capt. Swift. Tony joins an emigrant train, paying for his food and transportation by furnishing music for the emigrants. Early one morning, before the camp is astir, Indians swoop down on the emigrants, and a terrific battle ensues, in which the white men are destroyed and many of the women captured. Tony, a coward at heart, is frantic with fear, and while the white men have been fighting he has been groveling under a wagon. As the redskins rush into the camp, Tony begins to fiddle, and the Indians are struck by the strains of the strange music. His life is spared, and when the troops attack the Indians and defeat them in a fierce battle, Tony is taken to the fort. Capt. Swift is the accepted suitor of Grace, the daughter of the Colonel, and the wedding day is set. The girl is of a temperamental disposition, and she is thrilled by the sweet music of the violin in Tony's hands, and charmed by his attentions. He persuades her to elope with him. and, unbeknown to her, steals the Colonel's money. Hearing the noise in the dead of night, the Colonel arises and is shot by Tony, who drops his pistol and jumps through a window. The pistol has been stolen from Capt. Swift, and is identified, and the young officer is placed under arrest. Things look dark for the Captain, and Shorty is in despair. To save Swift he determines to sacrifice himself, and leaves a written confession, stating that he fired the shot and stole the money, and disappears. He eludes his pursuers, and with a tattered suit and a heavy growth of beard he is unrecognizable. He makes his way further west, and in a small mining town one day he sees Tony. Grace has deeply repented her action, and has found out the true nature of the man. Shorty calls on him, and compels him at the point of a pistol to write out a confession of his guilt. As Shorty turns to go, Tony leaps upon him, and in the scuffle Tony is fatally wounded. Shorty goes back to the post with the confession, and Capt. Swift goes in search of Grace. He finds her in a convent, and she tells him, in a touching scene, that she has decided to remain there for the rest of her life, safe from the strife and passion of the world.
- The minister of a village is in love with a young girl of the village, but she is saving her charms for the young schoolteacher, a "man of the world," and they elope. The villagers, a puritanical lot, turn their backs on the young couple for their "sin", and they decide to leave the village, but they return soon after to warn the people of an impending Indian attack.
- Jim Hale is engaged to a pretty girl, Irene Smith, and goes west to search for gold. After enduring many privations he finally strikes a promising vein of rock, and spends his last money for powder to blast with. A terrific explosion rends the mountainside, revealing no yellow metal. Despondent and discouraged, Jim writes to his sweetheart, releasing her from her engagement and bidding her good-bye forever, and goes on his way. In his abstraction he becomes lost in the desert and suffers from the blistering rays of the sun and raging thirst. In a dying condition he is found by the Indians, who bring him back to health, and Jim marries an Indian girl and becomes a fur trader. Irene Smith and her father go in search of Jim, joining an emigrant train. The Indians plan to capture the train, and Jim determines to prevent the massacre of the whites. His squaw aids him in this, and he reaches the emigrants and leads the women and children to a distant fort, while the men remain to guard the horses, oxen and equipment. The meeting between Jim and Irene is pathetic, Jim confessing his marriage. A terrible battle takes place between the whites and the Indians, while Jim leads the soldiers to the scene. They arrive too late, as they find nothing but the smoking ruins of the camp. The squaw, thinking her husband is among the slain, determines to avenge Jim's death, and during the night enters the chief's tent and kills him. She is caught by the squaws, who beat her and throw her over a cliff. She painfully drags herself to the door of the cabin, where Jim finds her, and she expires in his arms. The picture ends with a silhouette dissolving scene after a title, "The call of the blood," showing Jim riding slowly back to civilization and Irene.
- Ranchman Landers, owner of the Three Bar Ranch, sends his son, Dick, and Shorty, a friend, to town for money for the payroll. A gambler, with his sweetheart, Madge, sees Dick enter the bank; he waits outside. Shorty leaves Dick for a few minutes to go to the shoemaker. Madge approaches Dick and bumps into him as he is reading a letter. She apologizes and immediately begins to encourage an acquaintance. Dick invites her to have a bottle of beer and also into the dance hall for a dance. Madge tells Dick that the gambler will not allow women to gamble at his table, and asks him to bet some money for her. He loses and before he is aware of it he has bet the payroll. Shorty, in order to get the money back, gets a bottle of whiskey, follows the gambler to his room, and at the point of a revolver makes the gambler drink the whole bottle. Shorty puts him on a burro and turns the burro loose. Dick's father and the cowboys, who have become worried over their non-appearance, find Shorty and Dick asleep in a room at the hotel. Shorty explains that they could not go home in the dark, after having whispered to Dick not to worry as the money is under his pillow.
- Shorty is conducting a little drinking bout at the settlement "boosery" when an old Indian fortune teller, Bess, wanders in and proceeds to tell Shorty he is destined for large sums of money and a title. Shorty's head suffers an immediate inflation, and he repulses the ardent but somewhat emphatic advances of Gussie, the Swedish cook at the ranch, Gussie proceeds to throw various household utensils after the retreating Shorty and he is unmercifully "guyed" by his men. Shorty again visits the local "Palace of Chance" and wins large sums of money from the dealer, who, after handing Shorty his wad. Announces that the bank is cleaned out. Shorty and his friends proceed on their way, rejoicing. Meanwhile Carlos, a sinister bandit, and his henchmen rob the stage. On the vehicle are two little girls, Doris and Mildred. Mildred escapes into the bushes and wanders in the woods lost. Doris returns on the looted stage to the settlement. Shorty and his friends are fired upon by the bandits. They retreat and Shorty comes across the little girl. He holds the pass against the attacking bandits while the others leave hurriedly for the settlement and bring the posse. The bandits are repulsed; Carlos is killed, and a reunion takes place between the sisters at the village hotel, Doris hanging around Shorty's neck, much to that gentleman's embarrassment.
- The Sioux Indians capture a Cheyenne, and proceed to torture him. He is made to run the gauntlet, and in a sensational scene breaks through the lines and dashes away, hotly pursued. He clambers up the steep mountain-side, and as his pursuers gain on him he loosens huge boulders which come crashing down on the Indians below. He is wounded and exhausted and about to be captured when Capt. Gordon, at the head of a troop of cavalry, rescues him, and the Indian thereafter is as faithful as a dog to his master. There is a game of cards at the post, and the officers are playing for high stakes. Gordon loses his temper and accuses Capt. Carter of cheating. A fierce quarrel ensues, the combatants are separated by friends, and the accused man leaves the room. The two men meet outside the post gate and the quarrel is resumed. Carter, in a rage, draws a gun. The Indian, from behind a clump of bushes, watches the fight. Fearing for his benefactor, the Indian fires, and Carter drops to the ground. Gordon escapes and makes his way to a secluded town, where he manages to send a message to his wife and little girl to join him. She starts out, accompanied by the Indian, in a prairie schooner, and they join an emigrant train. The emigrants are attacked by Indians, and the friendly redskin manages to get Mrs. Gordon and her child through the attacking lines by the exercise of Indian cunning. They become lost on the desert, however, and Mrs. Gordon finally succumbs to her wounds, aggravated by her burning thirst, as the party is without water. Before expiring she puts her locket, with her picture in it, about the neck of the little girl, Ruth. While the Indian is searching for water Ruth is found by a trapper, and is adopted by him, growing up to be an attractive young woman. The trapper becomes a drunkard, however, and frequents a gambling house which is run by Gordon, who is living under an assumed name. The trapper is turned out of the gambling house one day in a drunken condition, and falls over a cliff and is killed. Feeling himself in a measure responsible for the man's death. Gordon takes Ruth to his home, wishing to adopt her. The good people of the settlement, however, call upon him and persuade him to let some church people in a distant town take care of her. Before leaving Gordon finds the locket, and hears from her the story of her mother's death. Knowing her to be his daughter he remains silent, as he does not wish to cloud her life with the shadow of her father's alleged crime, and he pays for her board and tuition. Carter has fully recovered, and is now a colonel. His son meets Ruth and the two fall in love and become engaged. Ruth writes to her foster father, and he comes on. When he learns the name of the man she is to marry he breaks down, tells her who she really is, and forbids the wedding. She tells young Carter, and be informs his father, who comes to Gordon, The meeting is dramatic, old Carter telling Gordon that the Indian confessed before dying that he fired the shot, and freely forgiving Gordon for the old quarrel.
- The brutality of Mrs. Cardigan's husband excites comment, and one day a miner named Norton intercedes on her behalf. Norton agrees to take Mrs. Cardigan away from her vicious husband, but they are overtaken. In trying to escape with her half-dressed baby, a bullet grazes her temple and she falls unconscious on the ground; Norton is killed in the skirmish. Indians, hearing the shots, attack the whites and take the baby, leaving Mrs. Cardigan for dead. The wife is found by the soldiers and is taken to the fort, where she recovers, and eventually falls in love and marries the colonel. Twenty years later her now-grown son is appointed chief of the Indians after the old chief dies. The redmen, thinking the pin that he wears bearing his name--John--a charm, have named him Running Elk. One day Running Elk calls at the fort to sell furs, and has an altercation with a drunken soldier. In the fight that follows the soldier is killed and Running Elk is sentenced to death. The mother meets the Indian and learns that he is her son, but does not reveal her identity. When she hears that the Indian is to be shot, she affects his escape. She is discovered by the colonel and, in a dramatic scene, tells him of her past life, and he forgives her. Smarting under the indignities he has received. Running Elk incites his tribe to war with the soldiers. Seeing that the soldiers are losing, the mother decides to tell Running Elk who she is; but in climbing the stockade, she is struck by a bullet. With her dying breath she impresses upon her son that she is his mother. A truce is declared and she is buried with impressive Indian rites.
- Captain Stanton, an officer stationed in a Western fort is accused of cowardice.
- A prospector by the name of Worth, lives with his son, a youth of about 15, and his daughter, a girl of twenty. While father and son are at work a stranger comes to the cabin and is given a meal by Miss Worth, and he repays her generosity by endeavoring to embrace her. She indignantly slaps him and endeavors to escape into another room, but the now thoroughly angered man attempts to bar her way, and it is only after a struggle that she reaches it and bars the door. Little Bob, returning home, hears the noise inside, and finding the door locked, peers through the window. The sight within sends him scurrying to his father, who grabs his gun and runs home. Inside the stranger has succeeded in forcing back the door, and has seized the girl. Gordon breaks the door down with an axe and attacks the intruder, and when Jack rushes in he is brushed aside by the stranger, who is endeavoring to escape. The sight of his dead father on the floor infuriates Jack, and he leaps at the man like a panther, and his attack is so furious that for a few moments the man has his hands full handling the boy, who is finally struck a blow and knocked aside. The stranger mounts his horse and gallops away. Years later Jack is a government scout, and is sent on a mission by the colonel. Stopping at a settlement he enters an inn, where men are playing cards. The stranger, who is a gambler, is cheating, and Jack takes advantage of the situation to interfere. One of the gambler's victims is a consumptive, pale and hollow-eyed, and while Jack is struggling with him the consumptive fires a shot which lays the gambler low. Everyone thinks Jack has fired, and he backs away, leaps on his horse and escapes, a fugitive. Some days later the colonel's daughter is in a stagecoach which is attacked by Indians. From a distant hill Jack sees the driver shot from his seat, and driving the spurs into his horse's flanks, he gallops madly across the hills, and heads it off. Dismounting at a gallop, he catches hold of the coach while the horses are going at break-neck speed, pulls himself to the top and guides the swaying vehicle towards the fort, though severely wounded. The soldiers, hearing the shooting, ride to the rescue, and the colonel is filled with gratitude toward Jack, while his daughter falls in love with him. The news of Jack's heroic deed spreads through the settlements, and the sheriff, who has been looking for him, calls at the fort. The parting is intensely pathetic, as the sheriff dislikes his unwelcome duty, and the colonel is compelled to give up the prisoner, though his daughter weeps bitter tears as Jack is led away, handcuffed. As the sheriff and Jack ride along they are attacked by Indians, and in most thrilling scenes the two fight for their lives. The sheriff unlocks the handcuffs and gives Jack a revolver, and they jump about through the hills, keeping the redskins at a distance. The sheriff is finally wounded, and Jack carries his unconscious form to the top of a hill, where, from behind a huge rock, he makes his last stand. Jack's wounded horse limpingly makes his way back to the fort, mute evidence of what has occurred. The colonel calls out the troop and they gallop madly to the spot from where faint echoes of the shots are carried to their ears. With anger in their hearts, the soldiers dash among the redskins, and a furious battle ensues, in which the Indians are badly routed. Jack and the sheriff are tenderly carried back to the fort and revived, and nursed back to health. The colonel's daughter proves a tender nurse for Jack, but the specter of the charge against Jack hovers over their happiness. The consumptive, who has been guarding his guilty secret, nears his last hours, and in a repentant mood confesses to the physician. The doctor makes haste to lay this confession in the hands of the colonel, and Jack is restored to his position.
- Lieut. Cole is a prime favorite at the fortress, and his love is reciprocated by Vera, the daughter of the Colonel. He asks for her hand in marriage, and the Colonel gives his consent, but when the chaplain is called in he tells them the wedding cannot take place, and, sending the girl from the room he tells them of a secret he has regarding Cole's birth. The story as told is pictured in the film, showing Cole's father wooing and winning an Indian maid, secretly, being married by the chaplain who tells the story. At the birth of their child, Lieut. Cole, the chaplain acted as godfather and placed about the neck of the infant a gold chain. Prior to the birth of the boy the Indians, resenting her marriage to a white man, had branded the Indian girl's forehead with a cross, and the child was born with a birthmark in the shape of a cross on its forehead. The father was killed, and to prevent its being harmed, the Indian girl left the baby at the gate of the fort one night. The chaplain knew the parents of the infant from the gold chain about its neck. The baby was cared for by the chaplain, and as it grew up became the mascot of the fort. The chaplain had guarded the secret, and the boy became a stalwart man, enlisted as a soldier and won a lieutenancy. The kindly old chaplain in telling his story had endeavored to be as tender and gentle as possible. Lieut. Cole, however, raged at the hand of fate which had intervened to darken his life at this time. All the wild blood of his Indian ancestors, which had lain dormant all his life, surged riotously through his veins, and he ran to his room cursing his birth and the white race. He tore the buttons and epaulets from his uniform and dashed them to the floor, and without a farewell to any of the people who had raised him he went to the Indian village. His knowledge of war commanded the respect of the redskins and they made him chief, and with a fierce desire for vengeance burning in his heart he drilled the Indians until they were as perfect as the soldiers at the fort. When the Indians went on the warpath a detachment of soldiers is sent out to check them, and instead of meeting a disorganized body of redskins they are amazed to find their opponents being led by an able chief, who maneuvers them into an ambush and slaughters them in a terrific fight. The victorious Indians march on to the fort, and the frightened settlers hurry to the fort for protection. A messenger is dispatched to the next fort for aid, as the Colonel realizes the seriousness of the situation. The battle rages with tremendous fury, and the Colonel realizes that it is but a matter of a few hours before the fort will be taken. He sends up a flag of truce and mounts the stockade. To his astonishment, Cole comes up to speak with him, dressed in war paint and feathers. Cole agrees to withdraw the Indians if the Colonel will give him his daughter. The soldiers, lashed to fury by this request, shout their determination to fight to the death, and the Colonel draws his revolver, and holding it at the head of his daughter, tells Cole that he will kill her with his own hand before he will permit her to fall into Cole's hands. The danger to the woman he really loves brings Cole to his senses, and as the angry Indians renew the attack he tries to stop them. Infuriated, the Indians turn upon him and be goes down beneath a rain of blows. The soldiers from the next fort have received the message for help, and are coming to the rescue as fast as their horses can carry them. The Indians are surprised by the cavalry which swoops down upon them, and are soon routed. The body of the dying Cole is brought into the fort, and, forgiven for his acts, he passes away with the old Chaplain's arms about him.
- The Sioux Indian chief and his daughter, Starlight, trick the Cheyenne brave into believing that Starlight will marry him, and her father gets a herd of ponies. Protesting against the .injustice, Swiftwind is attacked by the Sioux, and thrown over a precipice, but is saved from death by the arrival of Lieut. Randall, who carries the Indian to the fort and sees that he is restored to health. Swiftwind is very grateful. Later, his tribe attacks the Sioux, and annihilate them in a thrilling hand-to-hand fight. Intoxicated with their success, the Indians attack a stage coach, in which is Lieut. Randall's fiancée, coming from the east to marry him. A sharp battle takes place, in which the stage escort is killed or driven away, and Martha becomes a prisoner, Swiftwind recognizes a picture of Lieut. Randall in a locket she is wearing, and tries to save her, carrying her in his arms to a place of safety. Randall, who has been knocked unconscious, recovers his senses and sees the redskin with Martha in his arms. Taking careful aim with his revolver he brings the Indian down, and is horrified when he learns the true situation. The soldiers arrive and Swiftwind is taken to the fort, where he dies in an affecting scene, freely forgiving Lieut. Randall.
- In love with her father's chief vaquero, Pedro, Nell Worth, fearing that her father will discharge her lover, meets him clandestinely. John Benton, superintendent for the railroad, visits Job Worth, hoping with his influence to persuade the Indians to sell a right-of-way through their land. Benton meets Nell and falls in love with her; he tries to make love to her and proposes, but she refuses. Pedro, who is on his way to meet Nell, sees this action and, thinking that this is the reason Nell will not meet him openly, decides to leave the ranch. The Indians refuse to sell their land or give a right-of-way and Benton attempts to put the road through, notwithstanding. The Indians attack the railroad men, killing most of them. Benton is taken a prisoner, but Pedro saves him by throwing his lariat over him and pulling him over the cliff. Pedro is wounded and is nursed back to health by Nell and her mother. It is through the aid of Benton that Job Worth is made to see his mistake and allows Nell to marry Pedro.
- Ruth Castle plans to surprise her husband on their fifth wedding anniversary with a very elaborate dinner and promises their two little children that they may eat at the big table that night. Her husband Rex is infatuated by Yvette, a dancer; forgetting all about his anniversary, he takes Yvette to dinner for her birthday and buys her a beautiful diamond necklace, which he leaves in his overcoat pocket. Ruth peeks into his pocket for her expected present and discovers the necklace. She is surprised when Rex leaves without giving it to her. She goes to the theater and sees Yvette there with the necklace on and realizes the truth. Ruth goes to Rex's brother Wallace and tells him her troubles, insisting that he take her to a brilliant Bohemian café. There she becomes reckless and smokes and sings despite Wallace's protestations. She makes a hit with one of the frequenters of the café and goes to his table, which is filled with friends, where she is the life of the crowd. Rex and Yvette come in and Rex is amazed to see his wife. He knocks her admirer down and out and drags Ruth home. There Ruth tells him she does not want to be good if it means losing his companionship. Rex realizes how dear Ruth is to him and they reunite.
- Simon Hertzog's warehouse is given over to the Confederate cause and used as a prison for Union soldiers. Captain Blair, a captured Union officer, throws out of the window a note written to his mother telling the finder to convey to her the news that he is well. The missive is found by Felice Hertzog, who complies with the request. She returns to Blair with his mother's message. Several weeks later, Felice receives a letter from Mrs. Blair telling her that as she cannot live much longer, she would like to see her only son. She confides her secret mission to her Confederate admirer, Lieutenant Benton, who agrees to have a horse ready for Blair's escape. He gets out of prison, but through the unexpected appearance of Confederate soldiers he is forced to take refuge in Felice's bedroom. The city of Richmond is besieged by General Grant. John Hertzog, who has been selected to deliver plans to General Johnson, is unable to get away and he, too, is forced to conceal himself in his sister's boudoir. There he encounters Blair. Felice prevents her brother from doing any harm to Blair, and she also persuades him to change clothes with Blair. Grant by this time has taken the town, and Blair, who has been captured, after proving his identity, is given due credit for the plans which he found in Hertzog's coat. Lieutenant Benton is trying to get Felice to escape with him, but her screams bring her brother, who shoots Benton. Just then a squad of Union soldiers rushes into the house and is about to arrest the brother when Captain Blair orders them away. The following day, as Captain Blair is ordered way. It is plain to perceive by the pleased look on Felice's face that he is to claim her as his wife when the war is ended.
- Shorty, after reading "Robinson Crusoe," falls asleep and dreams of hair-raising adventures on a cannibal isle. He is about to meet his fate in the boiling pot and be served up for the cannibal king's supper, when he wakes, to find the underbrush around him on fire from a lighted cigarette he has dropped, and the cowboys rushing to his rescue with buckets of water.
- Jack Krone, a blacksmith, lives with his father and sister, Edna. The squire's son, George Burns, lives in ease and idleness. There are mutterings of war, and the local militia is in frequent ride practice. George stops to have his horse shod, and takes advantage of the opportunity to force his attentions on Edna. As he is attempting to forcibly kiss her he is knocked down by Jack, who reports the incident to his friends and George is expelled from the militia. The war breaks out and Jack goes to the front. Bitter at the southern boys, George secures a commission in the northern army, as he is the crack rifle shot of the locality, and sharpshooters are in great demand. As the fighting progresses and time goes on, little Bud Krone, Jack's brother, enlists as a drummer boy, and one day during an engagement, George is up in a tree picking off officers and sees him. Taking careful aim George brings the boy down. Jack looks at his dead brother for a moment, and then leaps towards the clump of trees from whence the firing had come. He sees George and shoots him through the shoulder, and when he discovers the identity of the man he has shot he attempts to kill him, but is captured by a squad of Union soldiers. Wounded, George goes home on a furlough, while Jack languishes in prison. Poverty has forced old man Krone to mortgage his property to Squire Burns, and the latter demands payment. George makes ardent love to Edna, and to save her old father she consents to marry him, not knowing that he is the slayer of her brother. Jack finally secures his release from prison and comes home, learning of the marriage of his sister. He sends her a note to meet him, and Burns sees them together, away in the distance and shoots Jack. Edna manages to support her brother to a negro's cabin, where he is hidden, and determines to ride to the nearest Confederate encampment for assistance. She dons Jack's coat and hat and mounts his horse. Burns sees her, and thinking she is Jack he lifts his rifle to his shoulder and takes careful aim. A storm is approaching. With a sacrilegious boast Bums says, "With my eye upon the sight, not even God can save him." And as he goes to press the trigger a blinding flash of lightning destroys his eyesight. Groping along in terror, he is harassed by visions of his foul deeds, and finally falls over a cliff. Edna reaches the soldiers and saves her brother.
- Mario, a pretty peasant girl, is gathering wood one evening when she meets Richard Kane, an American artist, who, attracted by her beauty, persuades her to pose for him. Different from all the men she has known, Mario falls in love with the artist. Her parents suspect something and one day her father follows her, and sees her in the embrace of the artist. His Latin temperament aroused, he forbids Mario the house and she goes to the artist. They are very happy until a telegram in a language foreign to her comes to him. He hastily leaves, promising to return soon. Some time elapses. Mario has sold all but one of Richard's paintings to keep a home for herself and child. The landlord demands his rent, but the sale of the remaining picture is not sufficient. A fierce struggle takes place between the two, and the building is set on fire by an overturned lamp. Mario with her child, manages to escape. She asks an old peasant to read the address on the telegram for her and he kindly takes her to the address, which is a grand mansion. She arrives just in time to see the bridal party of Richard and Vivian coming down the stairs. All her jealousy is aroused and she plunges her stiletto into his breast. For this she is to be executed, and that is the story she tells to the priest.
- A story of Puritan village life. The son of a minister wins a girl away from her devoted fisherman. Orphaned, she is adopted by the minister, and when her child is born she refuses to reveal the father's name. She is cast out by the minister and scorned by the people. When her child is dying the fisherman comes back to her with unfaltering love, and the minister's son meets a tragic death at the hands of the Indians.
- Sir Cecil Ballymore, an Englishman, owner of a cattle ranch near Tucson, Ariz., arrives in Tucson on the way to visit his ranch. He is accompanied by his valet, James, and a bad attack of gout. Sir Cecil takes a suite at the leading hotel in Tucson. His valet, James, gets into the wrong apartment and encounters a young lady in the act of dressing. She tries to kill the terrified valet with a revolver, but he eventually escapes to his master's suite and throws her off the track. With his gouty foot worse, Sir Cecil is warned by his doctor to remain quiet and rest up. Shorty is in Tucson, broke and jobless. Sir Cecil advertises for a man to go out to his ranch and inspect it and report to him. Shorty applies for and gets the job. Sir Cecil gives Shorty a big bankroll of bills for expenses. Shorty resolves to impersonate Sir Cecil and goes out to the ranch posing as Sir Cecil. Jackson, the ranch superintendent, falls for the "bull." Shorty flirts with Jackson's daughter, orders champagne from Tucson and prepares to have the time of his life. Not hearing from Shorty, Sir Cecil decides to continue on to the ranch in spite of his gout and telegraphs Shorty to meet him at Prairie Dog Siding with a rig to convey him to the ranch some ten miles distant across the desert from the railroad. Shorty ignores the telegram. About this time trouble breaks out on the Ballymore ranch, owing to the fact that considerable stock has been stolen by rustlers. Jackson fences the road across the ranch. This road had been used by ranchmen beyond. Jackson tells them that they will have to go around the ranch. The ranchmen protest at Jackson's closing up the public road and threaten to tear down the fence. That night the angry ranchmen collect a posse and tear down the fence. Jackson, Shorty and the boys rebuild it the next day. The ranchmen have left behind a warning that if the fence is rebuilt there will be trouble and Shorty and his men look forward to their keeping their promise and calmly rebuild the fence. Sir Ballymore and his valet arrive at Prairie Dog Siding the following day and find it only a desert flag station and no one there to meet them. They are heavily loaded down with baggage. Behind the station the valet finds a rickety wheelbarrow, and with Sir Cecil cursing the gout and the country and everything in general, they walk over the hot desert trail toward the ranch. Meantime the ranchmen have attacked the Ballymore ranch and bullets are flying like hailstones. The sheriff has been warned of the trouble and is racing to the scene with a posse to stop the battle and arrange a compromise. The sheriff stops the trouble and Sir Cecil Ballymore and James arrive at the ranch. At first they are mistaken for impostors but finally prove their identity by the papers they carry. Shorty is seized and locked in one of the ranch shacks, while Sir Ballymore and Jackson plan his punishment. Shorty strips off his disguise and gets back into his old familiar cowboy togs and succeeds in escaping from the shack that night.
- John Harlow, a railroad superintendent, is making a new cut in the Kentucky mountains. He comes in contact with Molly, the daughter of Jed Simms, a moonshiner. Molly falls in love with Harlow. He is already married, but is desirous of amusing himself with the innocent mountain girl. One day while making a survey, he comes to the secret still of Jed Simms, and only saves his life by convincing Simms that he is the engineer in charge of the railroad work and not a revenue officer. Simms allows him to depart. Shortly afterward the girl, Molly, discovers that her intimacy with Harlow has been followed by results which make an immediate marriage necessary if she is to save her good name. Harlow, of course, cannot marry her and in order to avoid the rage of Jed Simms reveals his hiding place to the revenue officers. After an exciting scene, Simms escapes and takes refuge in the cabin of Harlow by accident. Harlow returns and is met by the revenue officers who make a search of his cabin but fail to discover Simms, who is in the chimney. At this juncture Molly enters to present a final plea for marriage. Harlow treats her with brutal cynicism. Her father in the chimney overhears this, comes out and is only prevented from taking Harlow's life by the importunities of his daughter. Harlow makes a hurried exit from the cabin, only to be killed by the revenue officers who have seen Molly enter, they mistaking Harlow for Simms. Simms and his daughter escape and the old moonshiner makes for cover as the officers remove the lifeless form of John Harlow.
- Rio Ed comes down from the mountains and invites all the men in the saloon to drink with him. They are all afraid to refuse, excepting Dick Wayne, who tells Rio he is particular with whom he drinks. This infuriates Rio and he forces Dick to the bar and orders a drink for him. Dick throws the drink on the barroom floor, and deals Rio a stinging blow across the face with his open hand. Dick is pretty far gone with consumption, as a result of his dissipation, and the exertion is too much for him. He falls back weakly into the arms of the man nearest him, coughing violently. Rio, seeing Dick's weakened condition, does not continue the fight, but says he will get Dick into condition to fight with him. He takes Dick forcibly to his cabin in the mountains and there proceeds to nurse him back to health, with the one idea in view, that of getting Dick into condition to fight with him. Dick's sister comes to the town to search for her brother. When she finds him in Rio's cabin she is under the impression that Rio is nursing Dick for friendship sake, and neither man undeceives her. She tells Rio she will now take care of Dick and Rio allows Dick to depart with Madge. Dick's health improves fast and he is at last able to go to the village. On his first trip there he sees Rio and they go to the back room of the saloon to fight it out. Mercidio, a low white man, owner of the saloon, covets Madge, but has been ordered by Dick to keep away from her. Mercidio determines to get Dick out of the way and during the fight between Dick and Rio, Mercidio stabs Dick in the side with a knife which he has previously dickered for with a half breed in the presence of Rio. Dick is taken to his cabin and all are under the impression that the stabbing has been done by Rio, who is unable to prove otherwise. Dick's wound is not fatal and he is recovering when Mercidio comes to the cabin and forces his attentions upon Madge. Rio, who has at last recollected seeing the knife in Mercidio's possession, is on his way to the saloon when he sees Mercidio near the cabin. He tracks him there and through the window sees Madge struggling with him. He goes into the cabin where he forces a confession from Mercidio as to the stabbing. In a fight outside the cabin Mercidio is shot. The story ends with a pretty love scene between Madge and Rio.
- Frank Sloan, the best reporter on the "Daily Metropolitan," is detailed to work in Chinatown to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Chinese slave girl Woo. Sloan's nerves become unstrung from overwork and he forms the opium habit. He loses his position on the newspaper and is jilted by his fiancee. He quickly goes to the dogs. Sometime later there is a big murder mystery in Chinatown and Sloan, while in the opium den, overhears Yo Hong confessing to the murder to another Chinaman. Sloan tells Captain Wells that he has located the murderer and will deliver him over to the authorities if the captain will promise to keep the arrest a secret for an hour, in order to allow Sloan to secure a "scoop" for his old paper. Wells promises this, and Sloan affects the capture of Yo Hong, and also gets the big story for his paper. That night, as a last resort to save Sloan and cure him of his habit, his friends resolve to shanghai him aboard a schooner bound for a long voyage. This is done, and, after much suffering, Sloan is cured. On his return to the home port he is met by Grace (his former fiancee) and her brother Jimmy, and they reconcile happily.
- Hulda Mott, a pretty Dutch girl, lives in an old mill with her father, a miller. Absolom Van Spratt is a very wealthy old man; he owns most of the village, and holds notes from Hulda's father for the mill. Absolom wishes to marry Hulda, but she will not have him She is in love with Peter Veldt, a fisherboy. Peter leaves on a fishing trip, after first gaining Hulda's consent to marry him upon his return. Absalom fixes it with the captain of the fishing vessel to get rid of Peter on the trip. During the trip a heavy fog comes up. Peter and another man are out in a small boat with fishing nets. The captain will not allow the sailors to ring the bell on the big ship in order to acquaint Peter with its location, but commands them to sail on. Peter and his companion are stranded at sea. At last Peter sees an old derelict and manages to get aboard her. His companion dies from want of water. Peter finds the crew all dead from a fever. He runs the vessel into port. In the meantime Hulda's father has persuaded her to give her consent to marry old Absalom in order to save the mill. Peter returns just in time to prevent the wedding. Old Absalom upon seeing Peter drops dead from heart failure, as also does the captain, who supposes Peter to have perished at sea. Peter returns with a fortune, which enables the father of Hulda to keep the mill and leaves sufficient to keep them all the rest of their lives.
- Dakota Dan, who runs the saloon and gambling hall, is refusing to take another drink with the boys, who commence to kid him, saying he's been scared to drink ever since he heard the new parson's daughter was going to convert him. Dakota flushes and replies half angrily that he has never seen the parson's girl and don't ever want to. However that afternoon Daisy goes to the saloon and invites Dakota to attend church. Dakota refuses her invitation. Daisy tells him she will make a bargain with him to tend his bar for five minutes if he will go to church the next day. Dakota is slightly startled, but he admires her grit and accepts the challenge. Daisy goes behind the bar. The men line up and she is about to serve a fresh guy when he suddenly reaches over and kisses her. Dakota immediately knocks him "cold," and, ashamed of his bargain with Daisy, grimly escorts her to the door. The next day he tells the men that if they don't accompany him to church he will close. They reluctantly consent to go with him. Daisy's father is very much pleased to see the harvest he is reaping, and after the service invites Dakota to take dinner with them. Dakota and Daisy soon learn to love each other and Daisy promises to marry him if he will close his saloon and try to control his temper. He promises. The following day "Ace" Farrell, an eastern gambler, favors the village with his presence and on seeing Daisy inquires who she is. The villagers tell him her history. "Ace" goes to the saloon and there makes insulting remarks about Daisy. Dakota deals him a stinging slap across the face. "Ace" is right back at him and a fierce scrap commences. Dakota throws "Ace" out of the door and "Ace" draws his gun and shoots. Dakota fires two shots and hits "Ace" in the arm near the shoulder. He crumples up on the sidewalk. Daisy comes along and, without giving Dakota a chance to explain, helps "Ace" to his feet and takes him to her father's house, where she nurses him back to health. Dakota determines to leave the country. He is riding away when he sees "Ace" and Daisy, who have been gathering flowers for the church. They go into the church. Dakota hears Daisy scream and follows them in. "Ace" attempts to kiss Daisy and she runs up to the bell loft. Dakota shoots "Ace" and he and Daisy make up their quarrel.
- Don Martin, an early American pioneer trapper, living with his wife and daughter, Nan, attempts to keep Nan occupied with her books instead of too close attention and companionship with little Jim Dome, a neighbor boy. Martin is away attending to his traps when Mrs. Martin is called to a sick neighbor. She cautions Nan to lock the door after her and keep perfectly quiet should anyone come to the door. Jim Dome, who is fishing on the bank of a stream, sees Indians attack John Martin and fearing for Nan, rushes back to the cabin. They hide in a well and when the Indians attack the house they find nothing but the rag doll that Mrs. Martin has given Nan for her birthday. Martin sees the neighbor bringing back Mrs. Martin and realizing that the Indians may attack them at any moment, resorts to stratagem, giving the Indians the impression that several men are attacking them, and they retreat across the country. Martin finds the body of an Indian who has picked up the rag doll and he fears the worst. They rush back to the cabin to find Nan and Jim safe.
- After-dinner speeches are being made, and the toastmaster calls upon a man named Allen, who, while apparently young in years, has snow-white hair, and he tells how his hair turned white in one night. As he speaks the scenes he describes are shown in the film. John Allen, his father, joined the gold rush with a partner. After many hardships they finally located a good claim and worked it, securing gold beyond their wildest dreams. The partner went hunting one day and was killed by Indians, and Allen received the news from a trapper who found the body. Saddened, he resolved to come home, and sent a letter to his wife and son that he would join them in a few months. The mine caved in and buried him alive. Allen heard no further word from his father, and as time elapsed his mother died. Alone in the world he went west to search for his father, and one night as he sat alone at his camp fire a vision of the dead man appeared. The next day his hair had turned white. The spirit of his father guided him to the mine, where he secured assistance and dug out the dead man. This scene is very cleverly shown taken from the interior, and showing the picks and shovels breaking through, permitting ever widening rays of light to lighten up the inside of the mine.
- Sergeant Barr, in charge of the Northwest Mounted Police Station, determines to find out if possible where the Indians are obtaining whiskey and where they are disposing of their furs. Louvois and his daughter, Joan, run a trading store where Jacques and Baptiste dispose of their furs. Joan is half in love with Jacques, but is puzzled at his frequent trips from the settlement. Billy Gates, a mounted police officer, on the trails of the offenders, makes arrangements to board with Louvois, and Joan immediately transfers her affections to him. Jacques is suspicious of Gates and places a demijohn of whiskey in Billy's bedroom which is later found, and Billy is accused of selling whiskey to the Indians and is returned to Smoky River for trial. He is dishonorably discharged from the service, but determines to run down the real culprits. He sees Jacques and Baptiste packing their canoe with whiskey and furs and captures both Baptiste and Jacques. Jacques escapes from the cell, but is later captured and badly wounded, confesses to the frame-up against Gates, who is later reinstated in his old position on the Northwest Mounted Police.
- Joe Hibbard is employed in a mine and systematically steals gold nuggets until he has quite a fortune hoarded away in his cabin. He writes his old mother the following letter; "Rocky Gulch, Cal., May 1, 1853. Dear Mother, Am operating a very paying claim out here. Take train and stage for California immediately. Will meet you upon arrival. Your affectionate son, Joe." The foreman sees Joe concealing a nugget, and that evening follows him home and watches through the window while Joe places it with the rest of his stealings. An hour later the sheriff, acting upon the foreman's accusation, prepares to arrest Joe. A desperate fight takes place, in which the sheriff is mortally wounded, and Joe makes his escape on horseback, eluding the posse which goes after him. A fugitive from justice, Joe becomes bitter and decides to become a bandit and holds up the stagecoach. Among the letters he secures is one addressed to himself, from his mother, reading: "My Dear Son, I am leaving for the west next week. Meet me at Rocky Gulch either Tuesday or Thursday stage of week following. Am glad to hear that you are doing so well. Until I see you again, believe me. Your devoted mother, Mary Hibbard." Joe realizes what he has done, and is heartbroken. He camps for the night, and in the early morning the posse surrounds him. Knowing that quick death will he his fate if captured, Joe sells his life dearly, but is finally captured by a clever lariat throw. He pleads with the men not to disclose to his mother the manner of his death, and they agree to shield the woman from the knowledge of her son's crimes. Mrs. Hibbard arrives and is treated with the utmost kindness by the miners. The settlement doctor is chosen to break the news to her, and he gently tells her that Joe met his death in an accident at the mine. She is grief stricken, and is in a pitiable plight, as her funds have been entirely exhausted by the journey. The boys secretly make a collection and lay a considerable amount in her hands, telling her it was left by Joe. Then she is led to the newly-made grave, over which a rude tombstone announces the name and date of the death of Joe Hibbard, and the broken-hearted old woman is left to sorrow over her child.