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- A frontier plains family has their home attacked by a group of Native Americans.
- This story deals with the characters of the days of the '60's when cattle rustling was carried on in disregard of the laws and of the hardy ranger scouts who were anxious for the scent that would lead them to a battle with the cattle thieves. Their operations became so extensive that Captain Charles Barnes, a noted ranger, was sent to Arizona to break up the rustling, his wife and son going with him. Shortly after reaching Arizona, the sweetheart of Bruce Barnes, son of Capt. Barnes, decides to visit her lover. The journey is made with safety, but she finds that Bruce is not the same. A short time after the arrival of Rosaline at the office of Capt. Barnes, he receives notice that a gang of rustlers are working a short distance away. One of his scouts is sent out. He comes back badly wounded, reporting that the rustlers are in force. Preparations are made to corral the band, and Capt. Barnes and his rangers ride away toward the scene of action. Rosaline cares for the wounded ranger and while assisting him, Bruce, her sweetheart, comes in. She supposes Bruce is with his father, and asks him the reason why he is different to her. He evades her answer and leaves her. Rosaline decides to find out the reason for his indifference, and as Bruce rides away she mounts the horse of the wounded ranger, and follows him. She sees him meet May, the daughter of the boss rustler. Realizing Bruce has been false to her, she awaits her opportunity, returns her engagement ring and tells him that she will go out of his life forever. There are constant skirmishes between the rangers and the rustlers, and in one of these the boss rustler is wounded unto death. Bruce, because of his love for May, decides to turn traitor to his father's cause and just before May's father dies, he promises the dying man that he will lead the rustlers on to victory. The rapidly changing scenes bring complications, and at last Fate brings the rangers and cattle rustlers together in a last hand to hand battle. May, in her anxiety for Bruce, insists upon riding at his side. A stray bullet finds lodgment in her frail body and she dies. The horrible situation appalls the rustlers and they are easily overpowered. Capt. Barnes is wounded, and as Bruce, his son, now a captive, is brought before him; he learns for the first time that he is a traitor. Bruce, filled with remorse, begs his father to send him to prison. The sentence is passed by the father and the boy is led away. Time passes, and the penalty has been paid. The prison doors open and Bruce Barnes is met at the portals of liberty by Rosaline, who has found it impossible to forget him, and still loves the man to whom long ago she pledged her troth. A little later, there is a happy reunion at the Barnes home.
- James Anthony had amassed a fortune when reverses came. Then he lost his wife. In a moment of frenzy he takes a revolver from the drawer, is about to end his life, when his baby girl touches him. The shock brings him to his senses. He decides to take his baby and leave the community, never to return. One year passes by, and we see him living with his baby girl in a cave in the Pino Moimtains. Years pass. John Baker and Leon Noble, two backwoodsmen, go out for their day's work, when they are interrupted by a young woman running toward them. She explains that her father is dying, and asks them to come with her, which they immediately do. The scene shifts to the cave in the mountains where, twelve years ago, James Anthony had made a rough home to escape civilization. Before dying, Anthony begs the woodchoppers to care for his little daughter and see that she is taken back to civilization and properly cared for. The young girl is taken to their cabin and is given every care and attention. Days pass by, and both men find that they have learned to love the little orphan, whom they have nicknamed "Wild Flower." One day John Baker, finding her sitting alone in front of their little cabin, tells her of his great love for her, and asks her if she will marry him. She tells him she cannot marry him because she does not love him, nor does she love anyone, that she cares just as much for Leon as she does for him. John leaves her, thinking that later on she will repent; but when only a few days later he finds Leon asking her the same question, he decides that but one of them can only be successful. The next morning John asks Leon if he loves "Wild Flower." Leon answers in the affirmative and they decide that they will fight for her love. The scene shifts to "Wild Flower." She has a presentment that something is wrong, gets up hurriedly and goes in the direction taken by the men. "'Wild Flower" comes into view, sees the men fighting, rushes up and in between them. A rosary worn by John has been torn from his neck in the scuffle, and lies upon the rocks at their feet. "Wild Flower" picks it up and holds it before her, and demands that they cease their quarreling, that she cannot love either of them, and that she is going back to civilization. She turns and vanishes. They both watch her out of sight, humbled and repentant with all the anger gone from their hearts. The scene now shifts to a convent. "Wild Flower" comes up to the gate, and a sister bids her enter.
- It was an accident that brought Fred and Lillian together. When a shoe came off his horse's foot Fred hastened to the blacksmith shop, and it was there that he met Lillian, the smith's daughter. Before he left she managed to slip into his pocket a horse shoe, the symbol of good luck. Fred later finds the horse shoe. As is customary he hangs it over his door. Later he again comes to town and from the express office gets a package of money. Homeward bound, he sees Lillian about to enter her house. In an attempt to become better acquainted with her, Fred feigns illness. He is taken into her home, where mustard plasters and bitter bills fall to his lot. The package of money falls from his pocket. Lillian picks it up. He tells her to keep it until he is better. Charlie, a ne'er do well, a friend of Jay, the blacksmith's assistant, eyes the money longingly. He confides to Jay about the ranchman's money and when an hour later, Fred has recovered and started back to his ranch, they go after him. Charlie with thoughts of the money, but Jay thinking only of beating up his rival. They arrive at the ranch and hold up Fred. But Fred has forgotten the money. Lillian rides after him with it. She hears angry voices in the ranch house. Peering in she sees Jay and Charlie viciously attacking Fred. Then the horse shoe over the door catches her eye. She snatches it up, dashes in the door and orders "Hand up." Taken off their guard, Jay and Charlie comply. They see through the ruse and turn again to Fred, only to find themselves covered with a six-shooter.
- Mary, daughter of Tom Ashe, revenue officer, is in love with Bud, the son of Lige Stillwell, a moonshiner. Though Bud does not sanction his father's illegal business, he is condemned by Mary's father, and when he finds them together after repeated warnings, he disowns the girl. The minister tries to bring about a reconciliation, telling the police officer that he should not blame Bud for the sins of his father. Mary and Bud make their way to the cabin of his father, where Mary is received with open arms. Here the minister finds them after a narrow escape from death, when he is mistaken for a revenue officer. Determined to gain conclusive evidence against the moonshiner, Ashe and his men search the hills for the still. Making his way to the cabin, he is about to give the signal to his men waiting below, when he observes his daughter being married to Bud by the minister. Ashe observes the old moonshiner forswear his practice and the destruction of the still. As she comes forward and extends his hand to the old moonshiner, who takes it readily, the deadly enmity of years is quickly turned into a strong friendship. Since the officer's only objection to Ligc was the latter's illegal business, he gives his blessings and departs to carry the news to his men.
- Arthur and Willis quarrel over Edythe. She has shown her preference for Arthur, who has threatened to whip Willis. Willis, the paymaster at the mill, is found in the morning in his office badly beaten up, with the payroll missing. Suspicion leads to Arthur. He is arrested and held for trial. In the paymaster's office Edythe finds a heel. Later, when she sees a tramp with the heel gone from one of his shoes she surmises that he is the guilty party. This, in fact, proves to be correct, and Arthur is released and, of course, wins the girl.
- When Rodgers, the sheriff of Plumas County, resigns his official position on account of an infirmity, both Joe and Arthur announce that they are out to be elected in his place. It so happens that both are also rivals for Dolly. She tells them that she will wait and see who is elected sheriff before she makes any choice, As election day approaches. Joe fears that his defeat is certain. He is greatly surprised to receive a note from a friend in another part of the county, who tells him that in return for a favor once done him that he has decided to do him one. It is that three picked gunmen have been sent, and Joe is informed that they are willing to do as he says, no questions asked. Election day comes without the gunmen having bagged their game. A shipment is expected for the bank. Arthur is deputized to accompany the stage to insure its safety. On its return trip the stage is attacked and a running battle ensues. Holly learns of Arthur's peril, and for once she finds her city cousin of use. Mounting his motorcycle behind him, they race past the stage and the following gunmen and notify Rodgers, who gathers his posse and starts to meet him. The stage overturns and the gunmen are about to get their victim when the posse arrives and captures them. Bringing them back to town, Rodgers gets an idea and the gunmen are told that if they know what is healthy for themselves they will vote for Arthur, which they are only too glad to do. Arthur, of course, is elected, while Joe finds repose in the rough Plumas jail with the gunmen.
- After thirty years, Edythe returns with some eastern friends to the western town in which she was born. In touring about the country they meet an eccentric old character. He tells the following story: "Thirty years ago he was sheriff of that country. He was engaged to one of the belles of that region. Their wedding date had been announced. A notorious bandit had long terrorized the country, and one day he was caught. He proved to be the sheriff's own brother. The sheriff, holding the posse at bay, allowed him to escape. That night he received a letter. It was from his brother, thanking him, and adding that Edythe had left with him, and that they would not return. Since that night, added the westerner, "All he has done is to keep looking over and over again at the girl's picture." The story finished, the machine is about to drive on, when Edythe stops them. She goes over to the old sheriff, and recognizes in the old dilapidated photo herself. Willis is finally brought to realize that his girl has at last returned to him.
- Colonel Custard is awakened from his afternoon sleep by a bugle blowing in his ear. The bugler proves to be his daughter's lover. The irate Colonel hurls a bucket out of the window at the intruder, but instead the bucket falls on the head of Chief Standing Cow, who returns to his people and invites them to the war path. Meanwhile, the boob bugler has taken refuge from the Colonel's wrath in a mortar canon. The Indians arrive and a terrific fight begins. Against her father's wishes Molly sneaks out of the fort to go for help. The Indians see her and pursue, chasing her in a deserted cabin, where, unable to break in the door, they start to burn the cabin down. At the fort the soldiers fire the mortar. The boob is shot into space, and lands on the top of the cabin in which Molly is. He kills the Indians and then the two retreat to the fort. There, too, the bugler puts the Indians to rout.
- Martha is the daughter of Quaker parents newly-arrived in the West and wrapped up in their religion; Martha is denied the various little enjoyments of life. The reading of novels, for instance, is to them a sin. What little pleasure Martha has is derived from playing and the old family organ and singing along, particularly "Abide With Me," her parents' favorite hymn. By accident she meets handsome, wealthy young Harvey Gilmore. The two fall in love, elope, and are married. But their efforts to obtain a reconciliation with Martha's parents are in vain. Time passes. A thief breaks into the Quaker home and steals the bank which for years has been used for their missionary savings. That same night the thief enters the Gilmore home and is detected and captured. The box falls from under his coat and Martha recognizes it. The next day the loss is discovered and the father leaves to notify the sheriff. Martha and Harvey arrive. The mother is finally persuaded to forgive them. The father returns, apparently as obdurate as ever. The bank is returned to him, but he still refuses to recognize them. Martha sits down at the old organ and begins to softly play "Abide With Me." Touched, the old man relents.
- In the little town of Martinez, N.M., lived two brothers, Buck and Dave Conners, who were unfortunate enough to love the same girl, Ruby Howard, the daughter of a rich rancher. Ruby shows her preference for the elder brother, Buck, which causes jealousy to spring up in the heart of Dave. While in this mood he is accosted by a casual acquaintance, a low-browed Mexican, who takes him over to the village saloon where they meet Jack Saunders, a man of bad repute. Through the influence of Saunders and Pedro, the Mexican, Dave agrees to carry out a little job. He agrees to meet them at a certain time at a spot known as the "hole in the rock." In the meantime, Pedro has had a little trouble with an Indian. The Indian leaves him with revenge in his heart. Dave arrives home. Buck, his brother, who has arrived home previously, takes his mother into the house to partake of their supper. Left alone with his own thoughts, Dave discovers that his brother Buck, has left his six-shooter and holster hanging on the wall. Dave, in his jealous anger, sees his chance to repay his brother for winning Ruby's affections; he steals his brother's gun, which is branded on the handle with his name. He goes to the appointed place to meet Pedro and Saunders, and while they are laying their plans they are overheard by the Indian, who rushes into the village and informs the sheriff of what they intend to do. The afternoon stage is on its down trip and Dave, with his two evil companions, carry out their plans, Dave leaving his brother's gun purposely on the ground, so that the blame will fall upon his brother. The stage arrives at the post office, and Ruby'a father and mother tell Ruby what has happened and inform her that her sweetheart, Buck Conners, is guilty of the crime, because his gun was found by the horse's head. She leaves her father and mother and goes to Buck's home, calls his brother at the door and tells him that Buck is arrested for the crime. While Dave is listening to her, he accidentally gives himself away, and she accuses him of doing the job and laying the blame on Buck. She begs and implores with him to save his brother and a good streak of manhood comes to Dave. He leaves Ruby and goes to the spot where the loot is hidden and decides to bring it back to the sheriff. While there, Pedro and Saunders come upon him; he holds them up at the point of the gun and forces them to carry the loot into the village and turns them over to the sheriff, telling him that it was not his brother Buck who committed the crime, but him. Dave afterwards is released.
- Ill and homeless, Jack Sheldon is walking the streets begging, accompanied by his little child Edythe. Their appeals for assistance meet with no response until Mrs. Preston, picks them up in her automobile. In the machine, Sheldon becomes delirious and is taken to a hospital, where laboring under a strange hallucination, he escapes and wanders in a demented condition, to a sheepherder's camp where be obtains protection. Recovering from the delirium and regaining his strength, Sheldon is about to depart from the camp, when the returning goat herder falls from a high rock, receiving injuries which prove fatal. Nursed by Sheldon, the goat herder before dying, leaves Sheldon all his earthly possessions. Little Edythe, has been adopted by Mrs. Preston and has forgotten her parentage. Fifteen years after, she and her girl friends go picnicking in the mountains, near Sheldon's camp. Sheldon enters into a conversation with her. As the girl leaves the camp, Sheldon utters a prayer that his girl, wherever she may be, is safe from harm. Sheldon now discovers a placer goldfield; is possessed of much wealth and is determined to find his daughter. He sees Mrs. Preston and Edythe enter their motor car. Edythe loses her purse. Sheldon finds it in the street and traces them by means of a visiting card. He feels sure the Edythe is his daughter, and tells to Mrs. Preston and her the story of his life and adventures from the time he escaped from the hospital, gradually leading up to the climax, which he springs when he declares that if Edythe will look on her arm in a certain place, she will find a scar of a certain description. The girl slowly puts her arms around her father's neck. Sheldon assures Mrs. Preston of his gratitude to her and of his wealth and ability to care for the girl. Edythe and her father are reunited.
- The editor of the Bungleville Bugle posts a sign on the door, informing the citizens that he is going to a better town. On his way he meets Slim and sees him trading his horse for the Bungleville Bugle. On hearing that the editor has left town without paying his debts, the citizens' wrath is aroused and they vow to hang the next editor who hits town. Slim takes possession and is confronted by the many creditors, who agreed to allow him 30 days to pay the former editor's debts. He employs Molly as Society Editor. The 30 days are almost up and business is dull. Molly inserts a sign on the door of the Bungleville Bugle that coupons will be issued in the paper, and at the end of a certain length of time, the one holding the most wins her as his bride. Business begins to boom. The cowboys spend all their money in order to get the most coupons. On the day that the votes are to be counted Molly leaves for lunch, promising to return at 1:00. On her way home, however, she meets a traveling man and an instant mutual attachment springs up. Before Molly realizes it, the clock is striking five. She remembers and tells the traveling man about the scheme. They finally agree to get married, and to jolly the boys along, Molly sends a note to the newspaper office that she is waiting at the church. They all make a beeline for the church, only to find that she has just married another.
- Slim and Molly, chore boy and girl on the ranch, are sweethearts, but too poor to wed. After being driven away from the ranch by owner Mrs. Burley, Slim--sleepy as usual--takes a nap and dreams. He imagines that he sees two outlaws bury a pot full of greenbacks. He steals the money, rides madly back to the ranch, and buries it, much to the surprise of the owner, and then with a few words takes Molly to town for a wedding. Before taking his bride to the feast, however, he buys an auto and rides madly about the town fairly distributing money by the handfuls. At the feast Slim's rude table manners are noticed and turn the joy of the bride and guests to disgust. During the dance that follows the two outlaws suddenly appear and drag Slim off to where he had stolen their money. A posse attack them and rapture Slim, while the outlaws make their escape. Slim bribes one of the posse and he is released, only to be captured again by the outlaws, and the mix-up continues with lively fights. Slim awakes, finds his mistake, and finds solace in Molly's caresses.
- The sheriff of Chichise County, Arizona, writes the Tinkerton Detective Agency in Chicago to send out their best man. as the country is being flooded with bad money. The agency sends Frank Newhall. Frank meets and admires Tess, who lives with her father, a rough-looking character of the mountains. Tess sees Frank with a bag of counterfeit money. Frank found it in the road. Tess suspects him of being a counterfeiter. On the other hand Frank sees Jim in some suspicious situations and concludes that he is the bad money artist. Jim is shot from ambush. He is found by Frank, who takes him to Jim's cabin. In the search for water, Frank enters a small room in the cabin. There he finds counterfeit money and other paraphernalia. Tess returns to the cabin. Frank orders Tess to ride for the doctor, which she does. Meanwhile, the real counterfeiters, one of whom fired the shot that wounded Jim, decides to go to his cabin and recover the property which he had taken from them. While Frank is in the second room the counterfeiters enter and cover Jim with their gun. Frank hears them from the other room, and although he can't figure out the situation he comes in and captures the counterfeiters. Tess returns with the doctor and the sheriff, who starts to arrest Frank. Jim pulls back his coat disclosing a detective badge, and so does Frank, clearing the confusion.
- Williams, an old prospector, strikes pay dirt. His daughter, Milly, and Tom, a young prospector, are sweethearts. Larry, a tenderfoot, comes to the cabin and learns of the strike. Williams has been hurt by a fall, and Tom, going to investigate the discovery, is met by Larry. Larry proposes to Tom that they file the claim for themselves. Tom knocks him down. Larry returns to the cabin and informs Milly that Tom proposed to him that they should file for themselves. Milly refuses to believe. Tom rides to the claim agent to file. So does Larry. Milly decides to take no chances and leaves for town herself. She arrives at the cross roads ahead of Larry and changes the signs. When Larry arrives, be takes the road marked "To Goldite," but which really leads into the desert. Milly meets Tom just as he is coming from the claim agent's office. Without giving him a chance for explanation she bitterly accuses him. Larry soon discovers that he is on the wrong trail and turns back. He meets Tom at the cross roads, learns that he has filed, and forces him back to the Williams cabin. Milly returns to the cabin. Larry has Tom covered with his gun. Milly thanks Larry and denounces Tom. Tom tries to protest. Larry tells her to search Tom for the papers, which she does, only to discover that they are made out in her name. Larry is given orders to move on, and Tom is forgiven.
- In the days of '49, when the rush for gold was on, Jim Rogers with his wife and their eight year old daughter, Ruth, were among the settlers. They meet the Ward family. A gang of bandits have hoisted their tents in the vicinity of the settlers' camping grounds. That night the settlers are attacked and the bandit chief, after taking the locket from Mrs. Roger's neck, abducts Ruth and one of the Ward children. The next morning, the mother is found by a Westerner who takes her to his home. Six months later the bandit quits the outlaw life. Then years pass by. The outlaw chief tells the children, now grown to man and womanhood that he is not their father, but that he is merely a reformed bandit. The children are horror stricken. One day while the boy and girl are at the village store Mrs. Rogers with the ranchwoman come up to the store just as Ruth and her supposed brother are leaving. The mother recognizes the locket, and after explanations she finds her long-lost daughter. Later Ruth and John plead with the mother to forgive the reformed bandit, for he has been so good to them and is the only father they have ever known. Finally the mother forgives the bandit.
- Joe, the dissolute son, is disowned by his father. He returns to his home one night and is about to rob his father's safe when he is interrupted by his brother Arthur. As they argue the father returns. Joe escapes unseen. Observing the safe open the father accuses Arthur, who to save his brother does not deny the insinuation. Arthur too is disowned and ordered from his father's house. The elapse of several years finds Joe a moderately successful rancher in the west. He meets Arthur, who is in rags. From him he learns that he himself in to blame for his brother's misfortune. He writes to his father, taking all the blame. As for his brother, he gives him half interest in the ranch. With Dolly, who was Arthur's fiancée, and her mother. Willis, the father, comes west. Finding the black sheep, Joe, married, and a hard-working ranchman, the father is only too glad to give his forgiveness.
- Pete Roberts, a no-account fellow, who has a wife and three -year-old boy, is ordered out of the country. Twenty years elapse. Jack Roberts has grown to manhood, and is sheriff of the county. Pete, his father, returns to that section of the country and meets a bandit, who tells him that the sheriff has just received for safekeeping a shipment of gold, and that it can easily be secured. Pete is persuaded to assist in the enterprise and the two enter the sheriff's house that night. The sheriff awakens; there is a fight, the bandit escapes. Mrs. Roberts telephones for help. The sheriff is bested by Pete, who is about to shoot him when Mrs. Roberta enters, recognizes her husband and steps between them. The posse is heard approaching; there is nothing for the mother to do but to disclose to her son the identity of the intruder. Jack is amazed. The posse reaches the house. With a "God be with you," Jack assists his father to escape and when the deputies arrive they find the gold safe and the bandit gone.
- White Fawn, the daughter of an Indian chief, rejects an offer of marriage from Gray Eagle, an Indian warrior. The chief is angered at his daughter's determination, and strikes her. She leaves her tribe and wanders out into the woods. Tired and hungry, she staggers to a cliff, falls over, and is found by the foreman of a ranch. Drone, an enemy of the foreman, steals the foreman's money, and White Fawn interferes. Drone forces her to go with him. A chase follows. White Fawn is struck by a bullet intended for her lover, the foreman, and dies. The picture closes with the chief waiting in vain for the return of his daughter.
- Frank and Bert are rivals for the hand of Nell. Bert, recognized by the sheriff as a wanted man, is placed under arrest. Frank is accepted by Nell, and the two are married. A year passes. Bert is released from prison and returns home, only to have the memory of Nell haunting him constantly. He goes to the cabin of Nell and Frank, finds her alone, and endeavors to make love to her. She resents and in the struggle that ensues she receives a long scratch on the cheek. But she succeeds in obtaining his gun and ordering him from the house. Frank returns, asks her how she received the scratch and when she tells him that the baby did it, he becomes suspicious. Bert realizes that if Frank should find his gun trouble would follow. He employs Pedro, a Mexican, to leave a note where Frank will be certain to find it, to the effect that he, Bert, will meet Nell at the well at two o'clock. Frank finds the note and goes to the well. Bert then returns to Nell's home. Frank hears her screams and runs back. He enters the house and the two men fight. The stove is overturned, and the house catches fire. Nell seizes the little baby and rushes outside, just in time to prevent Pedro from shooting in the window at her husband. As the men are fighting inside, one of their guns is discharged and the bullet, going through the window, wounds Pedro. The sheriff and posse arrive just in time to rescue Frank from the burning house, which collapses, burying Bert with it.
- Rodgers, an old forty-niner, learning of a gold strike in the hills, decides to make one last prospecting trip. Lillian, his daughter, begs to accompany him, and he finally grants her entreaties. They start oft together in a prairie schooner, but not until Lillian has pledged herself to marry Fred, a suitor, on her return. Joe, a rival, hearing of Fred's success with Lillian, decides that he will have her at any cost, and starts out on horseback after the departing prospectors. Fred learns of Joe's threats and also follows. The prairie schooner has camped and the father has left for a bucket of fresh water when Joe arrives. Infuriated by Lillian's coolness to him, he ties her to the wagon, and is about to drive away with her when Fred arrives. A duel between the two men follows. In the meantime the horses, frightened by the confusion, run away and Lillian, since she is bound, is unable to stop them. To add to her danger, the wagon catches fire from Joe's carelessly dropped match, and soon the helpless girl is surrounded by flames. At the stream her father sees the runaway, and, getting a horse from a passing cowboy, follows. Lillian finally frees herself and jumps from the wagon, while Joe, seeing that Fred is fast gaining on him, swings to the limb of a tree and fires at his rival, wounding him. Fred finds Lillian, but the less fortunate rival falls in a gully, in his attempt to get away, and is killed.
- Leila, a gypsy maiden, is in love with a handsome youth who came to her rescue when she was attacked by a couple of ruffians. An innocent flirtation follows and the ardent blood of the gypsy becomes inflamed. She takes the attentions of the youth seriously. He later marries a young woman of his choice and after an interval of a few years they have a beautiful child. This little one, left in charge of a careless maid, wanders away across the fields and is soon lost to view in a meadow of goldenrod. The child becomes weary, seats itself in the midst of the flowers. It so transpires that the band of gypsies passes. Leila, the gypsy maiden is among them. They see the child. Thinking that they will receive a reward for finding it, they carry the little one away. The distracted parents, after a vain search, believe their darling dead, yet continue the search, heart-broken, with hope abandoned. Through a newspaper, inadvertently dropped, Leila learns the identity of the child, and in a spirit of vengeance concludes to keep it. She places the little girl in a fashionable seminary and toils for years for its maintenance and education. Eleven years later, Leila visits the child, who has now grown to girlhood, and remorseful, tells her story to one of the good sisters, who persuades her to return the little girl to its parents. Accompanied by one of the sisters, she visits the home of her former sweetheart and makes a full and complete confession, and disappears in a maze of memories, friendless, abandoned, and alone.
- Dolly's father and mother refuse to accept Arthur for their son-in-law when he is accused of ambushing and killing Charlie, his bitterest enemy. The engagement is abruptly broken. Arthur's guilt appears certain, but for lack of evidence he is freed. Dolly undertakes to deliver an important order for her father, the manager of a merchandise store. Returning she loses her whip. While trying it she picks up a piece of paper. From his look-out the forest ranger, Joe, discovers a runaway and gives chase. While going at full speed, Joe rescues Dolly from the runaway team. Joe, who is also a suitor for Dolly's hand, now feels quite certain that he has won her. But when she shows him the piece of paper, Charlie's dying confession which accuses Joe of the crime, he changes his mind. Joe is given five hours' start by Dolly, this for having saved her life. At the expiration of that time she tells her father. The posse follows. Joe tumbles over a high cliff. As for Arthur, Dolly tells him that the barrier is broken.
- Fred receives an invitation from his uncle to visit him in the west and at the same time that a telegram comes stating that a moving picture concern wants a scenario from a melodrama at 12 o'clock the next day. Arriving in the west, Fred captures a gunman is persuaded to release him by the gunman's sister, Lillian, who takes Fred's eye. Fred loses his heart. Charlie, the gunman, later sees Fred talking to his sister, and thinking that Fred is a government spy stationed in the west to capture a band of counterfeiters, of which he is a member; he tells the rest of the gang about him. They send him a letter warning him to get out of the country. Fred pays no attention to it. They capture him and lock him in a deserted cabin, bound before the muzzle of a gun which will explode as the clock strikes twelve. Lillian hears of it, and rushes to the cabin after phoning the sheriff. Fred manages to free himself, and falls to the floor just in time to miss the bullet, which goes through the wall into the body of Lillian, who has come to lend aid Fred hastens to her and realizes that she is dead, just as he wakens to find himself bent over his typewriter where he has fallen asleep. He proceeds to pound out his story, knowing that his dream will make a plot, which he can easily finish by 12 o'clock.
- Colonel Pretzel, proprietor of the Cuckooville County Nutt Factory, is notified by the county officials that unless his institution does more business they will abolish it. Igo Gettem, dealer in second-hand tombstones, is also discouraged over his business. His daughter, Molly, persists in attempting to elope with her rube sweetheart. Gettem sees Pretzel trying to commit suicide, and stops him in the hope that he will be able to sell him a tombstone. Pretzel tells of his Nutt factory and this gives Gettem an idea. He proposes that Pretzel shall pay him a stipulated price for every nutt he can bring him, a proposition that Pretzel gladly agrees to. Gettem's first victim is his daughter's sweetheart, and the same day he lands the village minister. Colonel Pretzel meets Molly and falls in love with her, but when she snubs him he orders his attendant to take her to the asylum, and there she meets her lover. Gettem brings a wagon load of people to the asylum. As he and Pretzel are dickering over terms in the office they see Molly and her lover outside being married by the minister. They start for the door, only to find that the nutts, under the command of Napoleon, have mutinied and surrounded the office.
- Fred, an actor, broken down in health, has come to the west, where he has fallen in love with Edythe. a simple country girl, the daughter of the sheriff. She tells Fred his suit is hopeless, and that she feels she has been ordained for a great stage career. Fred knows that her singing ambition can never be realized, and furthermore she never will be contented until she has had her fling at the stage. Her father, the sheriff, is trusted with a considerable sum of money for safekeeping by his friend, the ranchman. Edythe pleads to be sent to New York to begin her career, but her father tells her that finances can not permit of it. Edythe's birthday comes, and in her diary her father reads she is expecting that, for her birthday present, he will send her east. He recalls the money entrusted with him, and finally gives it to Edythe, telling her she can go. But Fred, disguised as a theatrical manager, has formed a little scheme of his own. He gives Edythe a hearing, and then informs her he is willing to risk sending her to New York and supplies her with the necessary money. Edyth returns the ranchman's money to her father, and soon leaves. A month goes by, and Edythe returns. Her father informs her of Fred's great sacrifice, and she hurries to offer belated thanks, but she arrives too late, and Edythe bitterly realizes at what cost has been "Her Higher Ambition."
- The neglected orphan is very much neglected indeed, for her deceased parent has done all he could when he kept her at the convent and had her educated. He died just before the story is commenced and left his daughter his blessing and $200 that he got from the sale of a book. The poor orphan hunted up an employment agency. About this same time the parent was wishing that he could control the tomboy, who liked to throw apples at all sorts of things, himself included. The parent decided upon a governess as the only possible solution of the tomboy's disposition. He wired the employment agency for one. The parent had been a customer and the lady boss of the employment bureau is loath to disappoint him. He specifies an elderly woman and she offers the post to the only available old maid. But the proffer is rejected with scorn. The neglected orphan suggests that she has the education necessary and can impersonate an aged woman. The lady boss clutches at the straw and off to the ranch is packed the poor orphan, now rich in the promise of $25 a month, with room and board free. The tomboy is much incensed at her presence and mistreats her shamefully, but eventually the orphan wins her over and becomes her confidante. This puts the "grand high kibosh" on the governess stuff and the parent sees that his idea is not the right one after all. What the tomboy really needs, he thinks, is a mother. He asks the orphan to be one to her, but the orphan has seen the parent actually being cruel to the unwelcome suitor and she decides will not take the risk just yet of incurring his displeasure. Putting off an answer, she agrees to help the tomboy wed the unwelcome suitor, who is not a bit unwelcome to the tomboy. She has determined that her usefulness is ended and has vague thoughts of resigning, a decision which is crystallized into actual effort when the parent catches her false hair and discovers she is really not as old as she looks. But fond persuasions prevail at the last and the parent agrees to become the charming husband to the orphan, and dear old dad to the tomboy and the unwelcome suitor, now no longer unwelcome.
- Whatever might be said of Slim, he was at least steadfast in his admiration of Molly O'Reilly, but she had her doubts. When he proposed, she demurred--and Mrs. O'Reilly fanned him out of her domicile at the end of her boot. When Slim told Molly and her impossible mother that he would have Molly or kill himself, the buxom widow laughed, but Molly took the threat to heart. She interested the cowhands and all rushed to the river. But Slim had no intention of destroying himself. He thought of another fair damsel and arranged a meeting at the bridge. Circumstances again operate to disappoint him. He takes a swim. When the boys find the boob disporting himself in the water like a two-year-old instead of accommodatingly drowning himself, their purpose reverses itself. Just what happens to Slim, and the unlooked-for manner in which he finally extracts himself and wins the fair Molly, is told in "Slim Proposes, But..."
- When Fred, the sheriff of Tulare County, receives word that his younger brother, across the line in Inyo County, has been elected sheriff, he entrusts affairs with his deputies and starts over to offer his congratulations. Jay, the defeated candidate for sheriff, picks a quarrel with Jack, the younger sheriff. He snatches Jack's gun, and coolly insults him. Jack grabs Jay's gun and draws on him. Jay calls attention to the fact that he is shooting in self-defense. When the elder brother arrives he finds his brother dead, and he is prevented from shooting Jay by bystanders who tell him that Jay only protected himself. Jay leaves. Fred examines the gun in Jack's hand, which Jack had snatched from Jay. Finding it empty, he at once realizes that his brother met death through a deliberate murder. He informs the bystanders that he intends to avenge his brother's death if he has to follow Jay to perdition. The man hunt begins. Into the desert the two men go. A sandstorm comes up. Both lose their horses. Days pass. Reduced to his last shell Fred fires, only to miss. Jay sees him throw away his gun and starts for him. Fred is helpless from weakness. Jay kicks and curses him and edges off with his gun covering him. He, too, has expended his ammunition. Knife in hand, Jay starts for him, and with the strength of a cornered beast the sheriff wards him off. The death struggle begins. When the sun sets the sheriff stands over the man, his oath of vengeance fulfilled.
- Dance Hall girl's devotion to her little daughter brings her to the honest protection of a mine owner.
- A young eastern girl arrives at the ranch and sets the boys agog with her beauty. In order to gain her favor. Slim attempts to make himself out a hero, which he does by bullying an inoffensive Indian. Molly, jealous, discovers Slim's attempt to appear brave and later overhears the plans by which he hopes to win the fair easterner. Slim invites the city girl to go for a buggy ride and arranges with the cowboys to disguise themselves as Indians and attack them, so that he may glorify himself by saving the fair damsel. The boys disguise themselves and are about to fulfill Slim's plans when Molly, by a clever ruse, compels them to remove the paint and feathers and remain at home. Angry at the insult previously offered to him, Big Brave hurries to his people and incites them to war. They capture Slim and his lady fair and take them to their village. In the meantime, a trapper spreads the alarm and Molly and the cowboys, now scared, start out to the rescue. The cowboys rout the Indians. At Molly's instigation, the boys again don their Indian war paint and give Slim the alternative of marrying a squaw or being burnt at the stake. Slim decides to burn. Just at the moment when things are becoming serious for Slim, he learns of the joke. Big Bill has, in the meantime, "copped" the city girl, and Slim goes back to his first love. But she also spurns him.
- A young doctor, Harry Lewis by name, was bred in the little town town as Abajo, New Mexico. Close neighbors with him was a widow with her daughter, Molly. The two children were raised together from childhood and formed an attachment for each other. As time went on Harry went east to medical college and studied medicine. In the meantime while Harry was at college, Lee Balek, a prosperous young ranchman, began to pay attentions to Molly. A few years later when Harry finished his college term and received his diploma as an M.D., he returned to his little native town and began to renew his romance with Molly. He proposes to her, but she is a little doubtful whether she still cares for him, and he reminds her that she promised, years before, to become his wife. She tells him to return tomorrow for his answer. Lee, who was on his way to call on Molly, sees the little scene being acted at the house of the girl whom he thinks is his sweetheart. He becomes very jealous at this and does not call on her. After leaving Molly, Harry on his way home passes the telegraph station. The operator stops him and delivers a message to him that was just received, offering him a position as intern at a big hospital in a nearby city, but he must take up his residence at once. He discovers that he has not time to return to Molly and tell her goodbye, but writes a short note to her telling her to write to him and send her answer there. Lewis goes on his way to prepare for the journey. In the meantime Lee has come up to the station to mail a letter. The operator, knowing him to be a constant caller at Molly's house, asks him to deliver the note for him. Thinking that if he can get hold of the note he might cause Molly to feel badly towards Lewis, he agrees to deliver the message, which he does not do. Instead, he goes to Molly's home and tells her of Lewis leaving without a word to her, and proves his statement by showing her Lewis getting on the train going away. Molly is grief-stricken, thinking that she has been jilted by Lewis, but it does not help Lee's attentions to her whatever. A short while afterward Molly decades to devote her life to nursing, and she enters the Mercy Hospital at Denver, as a probationary nurse. Time elapses and we find Harry the physician in charge of St. Joseph's and Molly has become quite an important nurse of Mercy Hospital. One day Lee is standing at the railroad station in a little town talking to the operator, when the mail train passes, dropping the mail sack and striking Lee in the side, knocking him down and injuring him internally. He is carried to the hospital of which Harry is in charge. The head nurse there, finding herself short of nurses, wires Mercy Hospital in Denver for a few nurses to be sent on to her. They are sent and Molly is one of them. She is put in charge of Lee's case as private nurse. Upon examination of Lee the doctors agree that the only chance he has for life is to be operated on; Harry is asked to perform the operation. The patient is taken to the operating room and Molly, doing her duty as a nurse, shows Lee every comfort possible, which causes jealousy to spring up in Harry's heart. Just as he is about to perform the operation, the thought comes to his mind that if he should not do the operation correctly Lee might die, and he would have a clear field with Molly. He has quite a struggle with himself between love and professional duty, finally deciding that for Molly's sake, he must perform the operation and bring Lee on his feet again. He does so. A few days later, while in the sick room, he places Molly's hand in that of Lee's and congratulates them, but Molly, thinking more of Harry, decides to tell him so. They leave the room together and Lee, seeing what misery he is causing, decides to confess the wrong he did. He does so and gives the note that was sent by Harry to Molly to her. She reads it and sees how they have both suffered. Happiness is brought to them and even to Lee to think that he has made the girl he cares for happy.
- When Joe, the young sheriff, discovers that Edythe prefers Arthur, a newcomer from the east, he plans a dastardly revenge. In Arthur's cabin he fixes a gun arrangement so that when the door is opened the gun is discharged. A bandit that has been terrorizing the country holds up the stage. The sheriff and posse go in pursuit. Arthur returns to his cabin. With him is Edythe's dog. Arthur starts to open the door, but the dog enters ahead of him. The gun within is discharged and the bullet wounds Joe. Searching for the bandit in that vicinity, Edythe, meanwhile, has been warned that Joe has threatened the life of Arthur. She rides to warn him. En route she finds the body of the bandit. Arriving at the cabin, she finds Joe accusing Arthur. Edythe clears this by telling of finding the real bandit. Joe, feeling that death is near, confesses that it was he himself who arranged the ambush.
- Hank, the proprietor of the Cuckooville Skating Rink, is out of luck. His wife suggests a plan: to boost business, they engage village cutups Hiram and Zeke to pass as the world's greatest male and female skaters. A big crowd comes to the exhibition and Hank is kept busy counting the money. Hiram and Zeke pull off some great stunts. A race for the world championship is announced next; Hiram wins it and Zeke gets sore. Susie, the belle of Cuckooville, appears and Hiram and Zeke quarrel over her. Their identities are disclosed to the spectators and a riot results. Hiram and Zeke make their getaway, but just when they think they are safe, they run into the crowd and more than get theirs.
- The hero is very jealous. He doesn't wait to find that Fred is his sweetheart's brother, but knocks him on the head at the first chance. Thinking he has killed his man he flees, becomes a tramp and goes crazy. His mind comes back in the hospital, there have been some house on fire scenes which are the picture's reason for being, and concludes that it is better to go home and take his punishment. He finds that the girl's brother is unhurt and he is forgiven.