Robert Barker, the newly arrived missionary, bears gifts to King Lomba of the Bartosi tribe. The king accepts the gifts, but tells Barker, "The bones of our ancestors have told us that white men are traitors." Kahma, King Lomba's younger brother, is being educated at the mission. While hunting one day, he sees Grace, the daughter of the missionary, in line of fire and saves her life. The witch doctor decrees that Kahma be thrown into the jungle stockade.

Etienne Cloquet, a young woodsman, is in love with Marie, the pretty daughter of Paul Le Groux, a salmon fisher. Etienne has such a sunny disposition that he has become generally known as "Etienne of the Glad Heart."

The Brown family, which consists of Hon. John Brown, his wife, two sons, Harold and Billy, and a young sister named Helen, has settled on an isolated plantation in the Jungles. Jack Arden, son of another English planter, who comes over frequently to hunt with the boys has fallen in love with Helen. But Papa Brown discourages the lovers, saying that Helen is too young to be married. Jack agrees to wait. Some time afterward the Browns receive a letter from Jack stating that he is coming for another week-end of shooting- with the Brown boys. On his way to the Brown's home, Jack knocks down Concho, an overseer, for being cruel to one of the slaves. His action is approved of by the Browns. In honor of Jack the family starts on a lion hunt, and, after a long trip, they return by the river route. They espy a lioness drinking at the river's edge. She is killed by Jack and taken aboard. That night Jack again asks Mr. Brown for Helen's hand and is again told to wait.

Billy McVeigh, a member of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, runs amuck another person of this service undeserving of its uniform, named Nome. The latter becomes his sworn enemy and is alert for a chance to "get even."

Jan, the hunter, is in love with Marie, a French-Canadian girl. The same charmer has captivated Otto, the driver of the Wilderness Mail, a vengeful and selfish individual. Mane has a half-sister, Joan, a decided contrast to her, a sweet lovable girl not ordinarily bold or aggressive, but when aroused firm to a finish.

John Morton, a rising young businessman, comes under the fascinating spell of Vera Violetta, a burlesque actress, and lavishes costly gifts upon her.

Mrs. Force, a social parasite, with a beautiful daughter, is so closely pressed by her creditors, that she uses her beautiful child as an asset, urging her to accept the offer of the hand of an aged banker, Black, old enough to be her grandfather.

Billy Garrison, a successful young jockey, rides the favorite "Sis" in the Louisville Derby. He does not ride with his customary vigor and dash. He feels "doped" and entirely out of condition and as a consequence "Sis," instead of winning the race, trails in last under the wire. At the stables he is accused of throwing the race, but denies it.

Dorinda, a mountain girl, left alone by the death of her parents, is adopted by distant relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Greer. Mrs. Greer is not overjoyed by this addition to their family, because all her mother-love and affection is given to their only son, Harvey, just finishing a term at college.

Aged Jonathan Wise is head curator of the Department of Anthropology in the great museum at X. - He has a considerable fortune saved in the bank, and when Director Henshaw, head of the institution, jokingly shows him an advertisement of a brokerage firm which claims to make investors wealthy, the aged Curator shakes his head and replies, that if he were young again he would venture his savings in such an enterprise.