The will of old Dr. Andrews left the bulk of his property to his niece, Mary, who was an orphan living in a distant mining town. The small balance of his wealth went to a married nephew, John, who had been practicing medicine with him and was now made the executor of his estate, but who felt that he should have been made the sole heir. It fell to John to seek out Mary and bring her to her inheritance. John and his wife went to the mining town and found Mary working in the hotel, where she had been employed since her father's death. The three started back to the city, accompanied by the Indian guide. On the way they came to a stop for rest near a high cliff overlooking the desert. Mary was attracted by the beauty of the view and stood on the cliff with John's wife nearby. John came behind them unperceived except by his wife. He could reach out his hand and touch Mary. A slight shove would send her over. A look of intelligence passed between husband and wife and a moment after Mary fell to the rocks far below. They went down and picked her up. and she was apparently dead. They wrapped her body in a blanket and buried her in a shallow grave in the sand. Then they went on to the next settlement and taking the affidavit of the guide to the effect that the death of Mary had been accidental, they returned to the city, where John claimed the entire inheritance. Meanwhile, Bob Turner, a young miner living alone with his mother in a cabin, passing the grave noticed a strange movement of the earth. He investigated and found that Mary was just recovering consciousness. He carried her to his mother's cabin and they nursed her back to health, but her memory was gone. Bob was college bred and his mother was with him for her health. The two decided that Mary must be taken to a doctor. So they set out across the desert for the city with Mary, who had now come to love Bob. In the city they stopped at a cheap hotel and sought a doctor, who agreed to operate, but he must have assistance. He called in Dr. John. When John saw Mary his terror was complete, but when he found that she did not know him he regained his composure. He proposed the next day for the operation at his own office. It was agreed and he left the office, hastening home to his wife, to whom he told the news. They agreed that he must risk anything to render the operation abortive. His sudden terror had been noticed by Bob, who inquired of the first doctor who John was. The doctor told him, relating the matter of the inheritance from old Dr. Andrews. The truth dawned on Bob and he told of his finding Mary buried alive. The doctor agreed to help him trap John. The next day found a third doctor present to assist in the operation and a detective posing as a waiting patient. The patient was placed in the chair and John was about to operate when the first doctor interposed and the third doctor proceeded to operate. John was forced to watch the result with his wife, while the detective watched both of them that they should not escape. The operation successful, Mary's memory slowly came back. She recognized John, and her first words were, "He shoved me over the cliff." The arrest of John and wife followed as they were escaping, and as an aftermath we see Bob and Mary happily married.