Jeremiah Green receives a letter from his niece, stating that she is coming west, and is in the market for a husband. The news scatters fast throughout the western town, and when the fair Sophie arrives, her callers are numerous. One look at the three-hundred-pound debutante is enough to convince the men that they are not eligible for the marriage certificate, especially if Sophie is to be the bride.
Shakespeare the Second and Dan Rice the Third, would-be ham actors, blow into the town of Barnstorm. That afternoon they give a "free" performance, which is indeed terrible. Dan Rice passes the hat, only to receive cat-calls for his trouble. The hotel proprietor orders them to pay their bill and leave town.
"Chuck" Peters, a gambler, is in love with Nell Braley, the daughter of the town saloon keeper. Nell, however, loves Bob Coleman, a cattleman. The express messenger is held up in the woods and the bandit escapes, leaving a snake hatband as a clue. Coleman inherits money, and as he is riding to the next town, finds the hatband and buckles it around his sombrero.
Wanah-to-mah, a son of the forest, is in love with Mah-to-mee. George Bradford, a stranger and prospector, sets camp in the forest and, by his carelessness, sets the forest afire. Mah-to-mee makes a great impression on the stranger and he tries to work his eastern tactics on her. He is rebuked.
Caleb Breen and Lucy Oliver are sweethearts and intend to marry just as soon as Breen strikes gold. Will Drummond arrives at Hillsdale, where he visits Henry McLean, a wealthy ranchman. Ruth, the ranchman's daughter, is engaged to Drummond. The stranger from the east meets Lucy one fine October morning, and the two become quite chummy.
Prospectors discover gold on the outskirts of Rawhide, a small town in the far west. Reuben Glen, a prospector, living in the next county, becomes discouraged and determines to try his luck elsewhere. When he arrives at Rawhide he is gently but firmly requested to remove himself immediately from the vicinity.
John Landers is sent to the drug store by his bedridden wife for some medicine. The druggist refuses him credit. Returning home his wife presents him with a letter from her brother in which he enclosed a check for fifty dollars. Landers is induced by Whiskey Bill Tate to gamble his money, which he does and loses.
The sheriff of Mendocino County receives a letter from Bill Kato, proprietor of a ranch, stating that he is tired of losing his cattle and that if he can't find time to do something in the matter, he will have to see the higher authorities. The sheriff at once starts out on the trail of the rustlers.
In these days of women's equal rights, it is not strange to find the fair sex taking the places of men in every occupation. Women physicians are not unusual, but a really beautiful one is, and would have her hands full taking care of every lovesick swain, who would develop every known disease to have the pleasure of letting her feel his pulse or hold his head.
Herbert Corrington, a would-be gambler and agent for an express company, not satisfied with the necessities of life, tries his luck at roulette, appropriating the express company's money. Robert, the son, is fast traveling in the footsteps of his father. The Sheriff in the next county is sent for a large package of money in Corrington's possession to be delivered to the Blue Ledge Mine for the payroll. Corrington gambles a thousand dollars of this money and loses. Broncho Billy, a professional gambler, loans Corrington the money necessary to replace the funds he had maliciously taken. Corrington gives the gambler a note payable in thirty days or his home as collateral in case of default.
Harry Keenan is in love with the pretty young school teacher of Green River, but his attentions disturb her. One day when the man is annoying her beyond all endurance, Fred Church comes to the rescue and sends Keenan about his business. The school teacher and Church immediately fall in love with each other. Some time later Keenan shoots and robs Church. The girl has arranged to meet her sweetheart at a turn of the Green River road and when he does not appear she goes in search of him. When she comes upon him lying injured in the road, he is just barely able to tell her what has happened.
In order to save his friend's life, Broncho Billy holds up the stage and takes money enough to pay the doctor. Jim Hart recovers and accidentally learns what Broncho has done for him, as he is about to pay back the amount stolen.
Dr. Sharp and his wife, Gretchen, live happily together in a little western town until the advent of the doctor's brother, Fred, who comes from the east to spend his vacation near his brother. He meets the doctor's wife and immediately falls in love, but visits her only when he knows his brother is away. The doctor learning of Fred's visits, shoots him. He repents, however, when he sees his brother's serious condition and does all he can to restore him.
George Ingraham is refused a loan by all the money lenders in town, until one of them accidentally discovering that a vein of gold runs through Ingraham's land, offers to lend him the money on the property, with the understanding that he is to take possession if the money is not paid back by 12 o'clock noon on September 30th.
Evelyn Hicks, a beautiful daughter of the west, becomes engaged to Broncho Billy, while at an informal dance. Sheriff Hardley, laid up with an injured ankle, sends for Broncho Billy, swears him in as sheriff, and instructs him to capture the two horse thieves that were causing considerable disturbance in the surrounding territory. Imagine the surprise, humiliation and pain Broncho Billy suffers when he discovers that one of the bandits is the brother of the girl he loves.
Broncho Billy, a dangerous character, is captured. On the way to jail, the sheriff stops at Evelyn's house for something to eat. Broncho Billy becomes infatuated with Evelyn and attempts to talk to her, but the men prevent it. On the day of the trial. Broncho Billy, in a clever manner, gets the sheriff's gun and, although handcuffed, holds up the whole courtroom.
Tom Milford, foreman of the Hayden ranch, and Sylvia Hayden, daughter of the ranch owner, are in love. Hayden has been notified that Archie Hollister, son of an old friend in the east, is coming to visit the ranch. Just before Hollister arrives, a cowboy brings word to the ranch that Simms, a troublesome neighbor, has been illegally interfering with the ranch supply of water.