A young man learns the hardships of growing up fast when his ill father can no longer care for him in the ever so depleting forest they used to rely on.
Sophie writes a note to her aunt telling her that she is undecided whether she will marry Slippery Slim or Mustang Pete, but says she will accept the one who buys the best-looking horse.
Pasquale, half Mexican, secures work on the ranch of old Fowler. Fowler has a pretty daughter, Vedah, who teaches the district school. Pasquale meets the girl on several occasions and falls in love with her. She repulses his attentions and tries to show him his error in loving her, but Pasquale is determined and, one day, rides to the schoolhouse after the children are dismissed. Finding Vedah alone he again renews his attentions and is on the point of taking her in his arms when she holds aloft a crucifix and, terror-stricken, Pasquale hurriedly leaves.
Ben Hart, the youthful mining expert, arrived at Red Rock and promptly sought out pretty Mabel Whitaker and her mother, who had inherited a map purporting to lead to a gold deposit. Ben made an appointment to look at the deposit and did so - quite unaware that Jim Halliday, with two bad pals, kept close watch of his every movement.
William Young and his daughter, Mildred, settle in the west, with the intention of investing their money in a mine. True Boardman, a mine shark, knowing that Young will be easy money, salts the mine and sells it to them.
The cook has been the bane of many a family, but when it comes to stirring up a western ranch and getting the goats of the cowpunchers there is going to be something doing, and the doing of the something is full of interest, to wit: The cook is not satisfactory and the boys strike for a new "chef." They appeal to the boss and he promises them relief, and it is not long in coming from San Antonio in the person of a very swell fussy French guy, whom they look upon as a huge joke.
Disturbed by the separation of his friends Mary Smith and Arthur Saxon, who really love each other, William "Red" Saunders resolves to reconcile the couple. Discovering that Belknap, a missionary with political aspirations, exercises a destructive hypnotic influence over Mary, Red schemes to eliminate Belknap.
During the days of the California gold rush, Jim Shamrick toils on his claim, Hell's Crater, for two years and then decides to enjoy himself in a nearby mining camp. Bill Gordon, the owner of the local dance hall, gets Jim drunk and then, with the aid of Cherry Maurice ( Grace Cunard ), robs him. When the prospector realizes what has happened, he abducts Cherry and forces her to labor in his mine for a year. Though nearly broken by the hard work, Cherry comes to love Jim and eventually marries him.
Supposedly wealthy, Patricia and Vi Moreland find themselves penniless and dependent upon relatives when their father dies. They accept an uncle's offer to live on his Texas ranch, which is desired by an unscrupulous neighbor, Jim Worth. Young geologist David Brooks (who sells windmills) happens along and persuades the girls to refuse Worth's offer to buy the ranch. Worth has Vi kidnaped, and he gets the upper hand when Brooks rescues her. The geologist turns the tables, however, and Worth does not live to see either Brooks's windmill strike oil or happiness come to Brooks and Patricia.
Hoot, thinking it's impossible to catch Crazywolf on his horse Fester, replaces him with a police-car. Crazywolf of course makes it impossible for him to catch him even with his car.
Jeff Fulton jealous and bitter because his partner John Acton’s daughter Mary loves their neighboring claim holder, Dick Carew schemes to eliminate both men by fabricating a land dispute between them. Not satisfied with the result Fulton forges a challenge and sets up a duel in Buzzard Gulch for the men. Fulton ambushes Acton, wounding him. Carew arrives later, and after a staged exchange of gunfire with Fulton, is led to believe he has killed Acton. Fulton alerts the sheriff, leading to Carew's arrest based on circumstantial evidence. Mary uncovers the forged challenge, revealing Fulton's plot. Fulton is tricked into confessing his guilt, arrested, and sent to prison. Carew is freed, reuniting with Mary.