A short Western. When his child dies, Dick is at wit’s end. He begins to drink, and shoots someone dead. As the sheriff is chasing him, Dick comes across a dead Indian woman with her child. He cares for the child, and warns the sheriff. When they find him, the child has already died, and they take him away.

Broadway star Mona Mainard retires from the stage for marriage to rising attorney John Norton and watches his career climb. Over time she becomes concerned with his at times unscrupulous ways of getting convictions. When her brother is accused of murder Norton refuses to give up the case despite being aware of his innocence because a victory could land him the governorship. Mona takes extreme steps to bring him to his senses and exonerate her brother.

The story centers on Flapjack Ike (played by John Bunny), a dominant local figure or "autocrat" in the titular town. Ike faces off against Edith, the Widow (played by Flora Finch), who challenges his authority.