Preaching religion to young Burton Harris has about the same effect on him as waving a red cloth in front of a bull. Religion to him is a species of hypocrisy and he knows no God. No church for him; he is going fishing. Coming home, he meets his mother walking with a neighbor and the minister, just as they are leaving church. The minister, seeing the fishing tackle in his hand, administers a sharp reproof to Burton, who, in a sudden storm of anger decides to leave for the big city, where he can do as he pleases. Several years speed by, and Burton, now a man about town, is leaving a gambling house where he has just made a "killing," when he drops his watch, the back cover of which flies open, disclosing his mother's face. The picture brings to his memory a letter he received that morning in which his mother requested him to come home before she dies. So Burton decides to return home. But he comes too late, and all the money he has won over the gambling table cannot bring her back to life. Overcome with remorse, he decides to earn an honest living and secures a position at a stone quarry nearby. Promotion comes rapidly, and with it as time passes, a wife and daughter. While at the quarries one day, an explosion which buries several of his men comes simultaneously with a message from his wife telling him their daughter is dying. Tom 'twixt love and duty he knows not what to do. Falling upon his knees he cries to Heaven, "God, save my child, give me strength," and rushes to help his men. When Burton finally arrives home, he finds that his prayer has been answered and that his daughter has returned from the edge of the Valley of the Shadow.