Long before he was the subject of a Walt Disney TV miniseries, Revolutionary-era guerilla leader Francis Marion, aka the Swamp Fox, was the "star" of this three-reel Kalem costume drama. The first part of the film ends as Marion and his followers capture English general Gates right from under the noses of the "Redcoats." The closing scenes find Marion and company emerging victorious from a battle between the British and the Colonials at the DeMotte farm.

Bronson Howard's Great Civil War Story in Three Reels, Featuring General Philip Sheridan's Ride from Winchester, 20 Miles Away.

Steve Carnes, the son of a wealthy manufacturer, leads a useless life and is disowned by his father. After a night of gambling he returns, penniless, to his apartment. He is on the point of ending everything when his bell rings and he finds an abandoned baby on his doorstep. Steve and his valet, Hodges, attempt to pacify the child. The distracted mother, who has hoped to place the little one in a comfortable home, repents her act and comes to Steve's house, begging that the child be returned. Steve complies with her request and secretly follows her home. He sees that she lives in a disreputable tenement and finds a note from her husband's father, in which the latter states that the marriage was against his wishes and that the young woman has no claim upon him.

John Holden discovers a burglar in his house and shoots at the escaping thief. Warding, a detective, and the officer on the beat hear the shot and hurry to the scene. The detective finds a large diamond set on the library rug and concludes it has been lost from the thief's ring.

When Rose McDonald and Frank Mosby became engaged it appears that the deadly feud which has long existed between the families has come to an end. The betrothal is held at the McDonald cabin. All seem willing to forget past differences save McDonald, the bride's father and Joe, the groom's young brother. The day of the wedding arrives. Frank prevails upon the family to leave all weapons at home. He sends them ahead. Joe has informed Frank that he no longer regards him as a brother.

Allan loves Betty, a mountain girl. Not sure that she loves the boy. Betty declines to marry him. Dan, a rough mountaineer, lives a secluded life, with only his dog as companion. The man sees Betty bathing in a mountain stream. He falls madly in love with her. Later, Dan woos her in his rough way.

Driven to desperation by the enmity of Jane, her step-daughter, Sarah, Dean's second wife, turns to Ware, a friend of the family and a former suitor, for advice. Jane learns that her stepmother has gone to call upon Ware. Realizing the unhappiness her conduct has caused, the girl is stricken with remorse. Knowing that her father would misconstrue Sarah's visit to Ware, the girl hastens to the man's home to meet her stepmother. Sarah is fallen aback when Jane finds her with Ware, but is filled with happiness when the girl announces her desire for a reconciliation.

Donald Hall discovers that his wife is engaged in a flirtation with Major Humphreys. The husband forbids Marion to see the man again. Despite this injunction, the woman accompanies Humphries to a road house with a party of friends, while Donald is at a directors' meeting. A fire breaks out and destroys the road house. Marion and Humphreys barely escape. Fearing to return home, the woman heeds Humphreys' pleas and elopes with him. Her handbag is found in the ruins of the building. Donald is led to believe his wife dead.

Mary's lot. always hard, becomes doubly so upon her father's death. Desiring to re-marry, the girl's stepmother conspires to get her out of the way.

Jack Fisher secures a position as reporter on a metropolitan daily and incurs the enmity of Martin, the star reporter, because of friendly relations which he establishes with Myrtle, a young lady in the office. Martin secretly changes the copy which Jack has prepared for an important story and places the young man in such a position that he is discharged. Some time later Jack learns of an opening in Central America. He bids goodbye to Myrtle, who has never lost faith in him, and leaves for his new field. Shortly after his departure war is declared in a Central American republic and Martin is sent to the scene as war correspondent.