Parker, an Army lieutenant at a Western outpost, falls in love with Barbara Taylor, daughter of his commanding officer. But when Barbara rejects him, Parker fights with another soldier and deserts. An Indian attack gives him a chance to redeem himself.
Grace, daughter of Jim Jordan, a ranch owner, has just returned from school, and Tom, leader of the Lazy S cowboy outfit, and Centiped Pete, leader of a rival cowboy outfit, fall in love with the girl. They both attire themselves in their best bib and tucker, and head for Grace's home. En route, they stop to settle a strenuous argument, and before the argument is ended, the cowboys of the rival ranches become involved in a free-for-all.
Percival Cadwallader Perkins was so bashful that whenever a woman would look at him he would blush like a beet, and this brought the "Happy Family," the cowboys of the Flying U, to calling him "Pink."
Three outlaws fleeing a posse through the desert come upon a dying woman and her baby in a wagon. Before she passes away, she makes the men promise to take care of her baby and get it safely through the desert.
Tom Meyers and his partner have a little claim near a little western town. When Tom goes to town for supplies, he falls in with Slim Padgett, a bad man, who wagers that he can outride Tom. Tom races Slim and the contest is viewed by Betty Thompson, a ranch girl. Slim angered at being defeated, follows Tom to his mine, and discovers that Tom has found pay dirt.
Tom Gilmore, a wealthy young easterner, loves Vicky, but she refuses to marry him because of her thoughts of the great free west. Vicky visits her uncle a western ranch owner. Tom decides to follow Vicky westward, and try the life of a cowboy. However, he reaches before Vicky, and soon learns the ways of the cowpunchers.
Whispering Smith is a virile, fearless type of the true American whoso theory of life is to give every man a chance to show what is in him. There is nothing of the bully or braggart about him. He is only a man who knows instinctively what is right and never falters in his steps to see that justice is given where it is deserved and crime punished on the same basis. Originally shot as a serial to be called "Whispering Smith", distributor Mutual Films decided to release it as two separate films - this film, which was released first, and Medicine Bend (1916).
Irene Norris returns to the ranch from boarding school. She sees Dick Taylor, ranch foreman, win over Poncho, and half-breed, in a bucking bronco contest. She admires Dick's ability as a rider, and a friendship springs up between them much to the rage of Poncho, who loves the girl.
When ranch foreman Tom Melford (Tom Mix) becomes engaged to Vi Gatlin (Victoria Forde), her father -- the ranch's owner (Pat Chrisman) -disowns her. They have a baby, but it becomes ill while Tom is away working a round up.
Hell's Crown, a town where law and order are as scarce as preachers, is ruled by "Chuck" Wells, a former gun man. He has a dupe in Blaze, the terror of the town, and holds him by keeping him well supplied with money. A sheriff is appointed at Carson City on account of the horse rustlers.
When Ruth returns to the Bar "G" ranch after acquiring eastern polish, she chides the boys for chewing tobacco, cussing and smoking cigarettes. When Tom, the foreman, orders the boys out on the range to round up cattle they are pleased, for they are anxious to be away from Ruth's constant admonitions.