After the mysterious murder of John Cowles' father, the son starts west to borrow money of his father's business partner, Col. Meriwether. He meets the Colonel's daughter, Ellen, and falls in love with her, not telling her of his fiancée, Grace Sheraton. Gordon Orme, an old acquaintance, turns up, tells Col. Meriwether about Grace, and the Colonel is so enraged he refuses to lend the money. John's mother and Grace have followed John and his mother urges him to try the gold fields. He discovers gold and wins Ellen, after both Gordon and Grace, who is really in love with Gordon, are killed.