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.
In the dry west, Louise MacLeod works as a secretary for Robert Powell, a lawyer defending businessman John Phelan, whom the ranchers accuse of monopolizing water rights. Louise's father, Gordon, is one of the ranchers, and so Louise keeps him informed of Robert's strategy, resulting in the ranchers winning their case.
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.
During the California gold rush, four unsuccessful miners assume that a woman prospector will give in without a fight, so they jump the claim of Kate Kenner and take her gold away from her. Afterward, although she is Sheriff Dan Deering's sweetheart, Kate decides to take the law into her own hands.
Tom Bruce finds a thespian's life is not a happy one, and when the theatrical company goes on the rocks, he lands in a western town where a school master is desired. In order to eat three times a day, Tom teaches school and not the least interesting of his pupils is pretty Vicky Withers. An uncouth rancher known as Bill Stone loves Vicky, and when he sees that Tom Bruce and the girl are mutually attracted, he goes to Vicky's father.
Steve Denton, rich from years of prospecting, is fleeced by the citizens of Yellow Ridge. In his rage, he kidnaps the woman most responsible and makes her his slave in a desert hideaway.
Grace, daughter of Jim Williams, a ranch owner, and Tom Martin, a Texas ranger, love one another. Buck Miller is the disappointed rival in love. Buck swears vengeance and plans with Delgado, a Mexican outlaw, to capture Grace and her father and hold them for Grace makes her escape and tells Tom and his pals of the outlaws' action.
John Oakhurst, a gentleman gambler, befriends Sandy Morton, who has dissipated his birthright through gambling and excessive drinking and dropped from his father's sight. Although Oakhurst soon takes Sandy's place in the affections of his father, he boards a train heading West and meets Pritchard, an alcoholic, and his wife, the Duchess. Pritchard is wanted by the law and Oakhurst helps him to escape detectives who are on his trail.
Jack Marston is the sheriff of a western town and Jennie, his sister, is postmistress and operator at the stage station. Among the inhabitants of the town is an Indian breed. An outcast from his own people, he is looked down upon by the race of his adoption, although his education has included a college course. The express company has posted a reward for the apprehension of one Apache Kid and his band of fellow robbers. The next night the band arrive in the town and hold up one of the main saloons. Peggy, a dance hall girl, takes the fancy of the leader, the Apache Kid, and he abducts her and takes her with them when they make their escape.
Family relationships of a New Mexico family are just one part of this silent cowboy western about a war veteran who finds a goldmine. He wants to earn enough money to take care of his young son, but crooked officials swindle him out of the mine, and then his son is killed. He swears vengeance and joins up with Mexican bandit, "Pancho Zapilla", who intends to destroy his whole town.