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.

Hamad, an Arab half-breed, is in command of the ivory traders. Allan Deane is sent to take charge of the ivory traders' camp, and Hamad is told that he can serve as assistant hereafter. Allan Deane and Naila love each other. She informs Allan that Hamad is a slave trader and sells the native men and women like beasts.

Joe Grant is the renegade husband of Lengua, a beautiful South African native girl. John Lewis is a South American trader, living with his daughter Grace. Ned Singleton helps Lewis in his work. Grant steals from Lewis' trading post and orders the abused Lengua to aid him in secreting the loot, and she refuses. She tells Lewis of Grant's misdeeds.

When Jimmie Collins, a pickpocket, is arrested and brought before Captain Callahan of the Tenth, he is surprised because he is lodged in a cell. Jimmie claims acquaintanceship with Bill McFarlin, a corrupt political boss, and he sneers at Captain Callahan when he is ordered to be placed behind the cell bars.

Archie Sheldon, determining to go to New York City, is given a letter by his mother to Thatcher Thole, Gotham's most unscrupulous financier. She tells her son that Thole is an old friend of the family, and will undoubtedly give him a start in life.

Henry Ranson, a soldier, returns home and finds his sweetheart is going to marry another man. He seeks consolation from General Craddock, a retired army officer. Craddock tells, young Ranson his story. General Craddock, years before in India, was very happy with his wife. Captain Alva stole the woman's affections.

Farmer Allen Golyer finds his romance with his naïve sweetheart Susie usurped by Bertie Leon, a traveling salesman. Leon's slick, citified ways win the girl's heart and she leaves Golyer for him . Just then Golyer's friend, Colonel Blood, shows up with a sapling which he presents to him. Leon meanwhile leaves the little country village and is never heard from again. Susie, believing that he was fickle, agrees to marry Golyer. For the next 20 years they are happy, until Golyer goes to a seer.

Rupert returns to his Canadian home after five years, an officer of the Royal Mounted Police, under orders to capture some illicit distillers. Jacques, an invalid, being unable to make farming pay, has, unknown to his sister, Philomel, been induced by Antoine, a suitor for the hand of Philomel, to join him in the illicit whiskey traffic.

When Jasper Leigh calls on Professor Hunt to ask for his daughter, Mary's, hand in marriage, the Professor tells him that the girl is too young. He also tells Jasper that Mary believes her mother dead, but that she had eloped with another man. Leigh encounters a ragged and worn woman, who proves to be Mary's mother.

Paro, a half-breed Indian, overcome with liquor, encounters Grace, the pretty daughter of James Lathrop, a mine owner. She is sorry for his condition and gives him a cross of black jet. Dick Graham is a ne'er-do-well, who has been sheep raising in the low lands and lost his fortune.