A Western melodrama about brothers, separated in early childhood, who wound up as opponents in a side-show wrestling match.

John Middleton is distressed to learn that his family is taking in an orphan girl named Mary. He turns aside all her attempts to befriend him. But with the passage of time, John discovers (long after everyone else has) that he loves Mary. But by now it's too late. She plans to marry his friend Willie.

The daughter of a wealthy French vintner, Justine is promised in marriage to German aristocrat Kurt Von Klassner, even though her heart belongs to Bertrand Duroc, the humble overseer of her father's estate. His pride wounded, Von Klassner murders Duroc and shifts the blame to marauding poachers.

Hosiah Howe struggles to earn his living on a farm that lies in the shadow of a wealthy summer resort. Visiting the resort are Dr. Rand, his daughter Virginia, and a scoundrel named Ward Andrews. One day Andrews stops at the Howe farm and discovers that the land contains water with a highly-exploitable medicinal value. Smelling money, Andrews convinces Dr. Rand to buy an option on the farm, then runs away to the city with Hosiah's innocent sister Martha.