Ray and his partner, Jack, seeking gold in the Canadian Rockies, are disheartened over their lack of success. Across the border lives Ray's sister, Janice, with her grandfather, and as every letter from Ray is filled with praise of his best pal, she writes Ray a letter stating that she is sending a photo of herself and expressing the wish to meet the man of whom her brother thinks so much. Pete Reeves, a ne'er-do-well miner, borrows from the pals on every occasion. As the partners are crossing a stream one day on their way home, Ray slips and falls. In righting himself, he finds traces of gold. While they are rejoicing over their find, Grey Dog, an Indian, whom the boys have befriended many times and who sometimes carries mail, arrives on the scene and delivers the letter of Janice to Ray. Ray reads the letter and shows the photo to Jack. Pete wanders around and sees the boys' lucky find, which he plots to secure for his own use. The partners' elation is short-lived, for Ray soon falls a victim to the dread mountain sickness and in spite of all of Jack's efforts, dies. Before dying he pencils a note leaving his share in Jack's trust for Janice. Reeves sneaks in and gets the paper. Jack decides to take the gold to town and send the girl's share to her. Accompanied by the Indian, he leaves. Pete follows him in an endeavor to steal the gold, shoots Jack, who falls over a cliff. He is only wounded, however, and the Indian, who escaped with the gold, joins him later. He orders the Indian to take the gold to the city, send half to Janice and deposit the other half for him, while he follows Reeves. Janice, who has become worried over Ray, persuades her grandfather to take her to him and they arrive at the deserted camp just as Reeves, too, returns. At first Janice thinks Reeves is Jack, although she mistrusts his face. Her distrust grows and she and her grandfather leave. Reeves insists upon accompanying them, and forces the old man to get off and walk, while Reeves rides his horse. They stop in a clearing in the woods. Reeves forces his attentions upon the girl, knocking the old man down when he tries to interfere. Jack returns to the camp and sees a shawl which the girl has left. He sets out on their trail and arrives just as Reeves is forcing his attentions on the girl. Both men fire and Pete drops with a wounded wrist. He accuses Jack of stealing the gold and the girl is about to leave, believing that both men are thieves, when the Indian arrives with the receipt. Jack then explains about Ray's death and comforts the girl in her bereavement. The Indian and Reeves are left alone and when the two young people turn away they see Reeves fall with the Indian's knife in his breast. He has at last paid the debt for many score misdeeds. Jack proves quite a comfort to the girl and as the story closes she begs his forgiveness for doubting him at first.