Southerner Pearson Hunter (Jack Holt) marries Shirley, a Northerner (Dorothy Dalton), and brings her down to his home. There, she finds an acquaintance, Alexander Chapman (Robert McKim), and the fact that she knows him rouses her new husband's jealousy. This is fanned even further when Pearson's younger brother, Morgan (Emory Johnson) returns from college. His fiancee, Margery (Doris Lee), believes there is something going on between Shirley and Morgan and complains to Pearson.

The firm of John Sterling and Sons bad been organized by his father, and when son Gilbert was old enough, he took active part in the management. Gilbert's love for the high life led him away from his duties, and it was nothing unusual for him to spend six nights out of the week with questionable company. Early one morning, intoxicated, Gilbert finds his way to his home. His father reprimands him and finally puts him out of the house, telling him "never to return."

Polly Hopkins belongs to a family of squatters living in Silent City. The poor squatters are constantly at odds with the wealthy "hilltoppers," but Polly's grandmother has gone against popular opinion by teaching Polly to love everybody. Polly keeps the faith, even when her sister's husband is railroaded into jail.

In Mexico, a poor Yaqui Indian loses his family through the actions of a racist Mexican officer named Martinez.

Old Harry Todd and his daughter, Marguerite, are in the west prospecting for gold. They meet Broncho Billy, who takes dinner with them and later continues on his way. As he is riding across the plains thinking of Marguerite, he happens to see an Indian at the top of a hill, looking down upon the prospector and his daughter. Broncho Billy warns Todd and his daughter.

Blanche Henry, a vivacious young woman, finds what she believes is true love with a handsome young man, but then learns that he has designs on her younger sister.

Broncho Billy is in love with Marguerite Clayton, who is devotedly fond of him. Broncho asks her to go to a dance with him, but when he meets Elsa Larimer, who is on a visit from the East, he forgets his promise to Marguerite and takes Elsa to the dance. Marguerite's heart is broken, and Elsa finding her weeping, discovers that she is the cause of Marguerite's sorrow

Earl Briggs, a ranchman, and Carl Underwood, a sheriff, are in love with Grace Woodward. Earl is the favored suitor and in time Grace becomes engaged to hire. Sometime later the stage is held up by Broncho Billy, a notorious outlaw. A fierce battle ensues in the woods between the posse and the bandit, in which Broncho Billy is wounded

A mother's heart always goes out to her wayward son. Jim Barton caused his mother constant worry, and one night his father caught him in the act of tampering with the family strong box. Jim is severely admonished and that night runs away, leaving a note to his mother to the effect that he will never return. The parents are broken-hearted, but are consoled by their other son, who is a good, honest lad.

Jim Kane, a gambler, prevails upon Grace Carew to marry him. Grace is undecided whom she loves the best, John Hunter, a ranchman, or Kane, but finally decides to marry Kane. Some time later, we see Kane abusing his wife, neglecting her and always in a state of intoxication. Hunter has always been a friend of the family and it was nothing unusual to see him in their home, but Kane, entering the house one evening under the influence of liquor, misinterprets the meaning of Hunter's presence there, and upbraids his wife, slapping her in the face. Hunter is furious, but controls himself.