Luke Hawkins, the jack-of-all-trades of the western town of Lariat, falls in love with Mary Darling, the leading lady in a traveling theatrical troupe (of the old-fashioned "mortgage melodrama" variety). He follows her to New York, takes another series of jobs, and finally works as an extra in Mary's new production. Just as the play is about to flop, Luke recognizes Mary, and his rush to take her in his arms turns the show into a hit.
Sheriff Bob Winton sets out to capture a mysterious bandit named "The Hawk," a phantom rider who is admired by the townspeople, because he steals from the Williams Lumber Co., a ruthless outfit determined to own all the land in the vicinity. This is a lost film.
Bud Watkins loses his ranch and savings to gambling house proprietor "Gentlemen Jim" Slade. The Cocopah Kid, a notorious bandit, lures away Betsy Burke, Bud's sweetheart and the daughter of the local sheriff.
Ned Bannister, manager of a sheep ranch, is accused of the murder of David Messiter, a neighboring cattle rancher. Bannister's employer, Halloway, would like to own the cattle rancher's spread. When Helen Messiter, niece of the deceased, arrives to investigate the murder, Halloway, the real culprit, tries to seduce her.
The Ramblin' Kid, a cowboy, falls in love with Carolyn June, a beautiful easterner, and wins her after he triumphs in a rodeo in spite of having been doped by his enemy, Sabota the Greek, a crafty racetrack tout.
John Harley leaves his milkman job to take possession of half of a cattle ranch while waitress Sallie Summers goes west on a similar mission to take her half of their shared inheritance. Together, Harley and Sallie fight for ownership of the ranch with foreman Buck Osborne and his gang, who, to scare off the new owners, stage fake holdups, Indian battles, and gunfights.
Trained by his Quaker mother to be gentle, Cyril Henderson receives only laughter from the townspeople when he tries to act tough to impress Grace Nolan, who is allowing Art Jordan, the town bully, to occupy her time so as to pique Cyril. The murder of Andrew McBride, who holds the mortgage on the Henderson's property, is blamed on the elder Henderson, and Cyril unsuccessfully tries to take the blame.
Cowboy Simplex Cox, now a drifter and odd-job seeker, lands the assignment of chaperoning the pretty daughter of cattleman "Five-Notch" Arnett. Laura Arnett has a weakness of falling in love with every man she meets---Simplex Cox the exception---and it is Simp's job to keep her from meeting any. However, too late, as she has succumbed to the polished, oily charms of Hubert Bolston, who has dastardly designs upon Arnett's land and intends getting them by marrying the daughter.
William Russell plays Cliff Redfern, a hard-ridin' Westerner who takes a liking to Easterner Ned Caldwell (Cullen Landis), the dissolute son of a wealthy cattle rancher. Certain that all Caldwell needs to become a "real man" is a dose of frontier life, Cliff kidnaps Ned and brings him back to the wide open spaces.
A couple of drifters seeking shelter from a blizzard. In a mountain cabin, they find the body of an old friend and a note that blames his death on the Border Blackbirds, a notorious gang operating on the border of Canada.
Hobo poet Sundown Slim meets his old friend Billy Corliss in a Western saloon. Billy, in poor health as a result of injuries sustained in a train wreck, now owns the Concho cattle ranch with his brother Jack who runs the ranch. Sundown obtains a job at the Concho and becomes embroiled in the Corliss' battle with their sheeprancher neighbors, the Fernandos. When Loring, one of Jack's employees, attacks Fernando's daughter Anita, Jack fires him but Fernando, not satisfied, vows revenge on Jack, then shoots Billy by mistake.
In the Deep South, plantation owner Col. Webster, who is in dire financial straits, is offered a loan by wealthy neighbor Sam Logan on the condition that Webster's beautiful daughter, Madonna, marry him. Webster turns down the offer, thus angering Logan.
When stern Judge McClure gets into an argument with his younger brother John, a physical fight ensues in which the judge apparently kills John. In fear of the consequences, he runs off to the West and hires guide Cal Nelson to take him far into the desert. Along the way they meet Mary Jackson, and the judge, overcome by heat prostration, babbles out his secret.