Sam Madden and his daughter Emily run a general store in a small Western town. One of their frequent visitors and one who Madden especially admires is Grey Deer, an educated Indian, and on his deathbed, at the opening of the story, he exacts a promise from Emily that she will wed Gray Deer when he dies. Knowing that Grey Deer really loves her and desiring to respect her father's wish she plans to marry the red man, despite the strong prejudice in her heart against his race and color. Things change, however, when an Eastern cousin, a fine, strapping fellow arrives and endeavors to persuade her to break her promise. On the day of the wedding, Emily still endeavoring to make good her promise to her father, Willoughby, the cousin, incites the cowboys to interfere and the marriage takes place under great difficulties, Willoughby and the cowboys doing all they can to break up the match. Grey Deer and his wife live together a year and in spite of her attempt to make it appear that she still loves him she always welcomes the secret visits of her cousin from the east. One day Grey Deer returns and finds them together in each other's arms. Realizing that the girl no longer loves him he consents to a separation, but exacts a promise from Willoughby that he will love and cherish Emily upon the pain of a great punishment if he does not.