A disgraced son of a mine owner discovers a plot among the workers to defraud his father.

For the sake of his impoverished mother, Joe Newbolt bonds himself to harsh Isom Chase. Ollie Chase tires of the difficult life her husband has forced on her and plans to elope with Cyrus Morgan, but Joe's sense of honor forces him to intervene. While Joe is trying to persuade Ollie not to proceed with her plans, Chase discovers him with his wife, misunderstands, reaches for his gun, and is accidentally killed. Joe protects Mrs. Chase, though he is accused of murder, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be hanged.

The hero must solve the murder of his benefactor within six months in order to inherit a valuable ranch.

Henry Everett is confined to an insane asylum when he refuses to sacrifice his invention to a powerful rubber trust. Richard Trevor, the son of trust magnate Silas Trevor, becomes involved with Henry and his sister Edith, when he mistakenly picks up a baggage claim check meant for the detective Edith has hired to help her brother. After a series of daring adventures, Richard, acting as the detective, secures freedom and financial recompense for Henry, and the affections of Edith for himself.