The Camp of Pinon had sprung into existence overnight. A prospector seeking the elusive metal had overturned something that glittered and the news spread fast and the population came in overnight. Ballarat Bob is the owner of a gambling establishment. Bob's reputation for fair dealing is known throughout the country. Clem Hardy, a victim of the gold fever, arrives in the mining camp, accompanied by his wife, Josephine, and their child, Peter Boy. They stake a claim near the camp of Dr. Bleeker, Chuck Walla Bill and Bob, who are palling together. Clem's first visit, after staking his claim, is to the gambling hall. As Bill and Doc approach their home they see the new neighbors. The child's crying gets on their nerves and when Bob arrives Bill is in a towering rage. They decide that the noise is unbearable and Bill, as a committee of one, goes to the tent to remonstrate. Bill enters in anger, but one glance at Josephine calms him. Clem, angry at the intrusion, hits Bill and knocks him out. Bill starts to retaliate, but, seeing Josephine, retreat in fierce anger. He returns to his friends and tells them of the incident; they decide that there is nothing to be done. The next day, as Bob is returning from the hall, Peter Boy is playing in the road. Bob snatches the child from death underneath the oncoming stage, but the child receives a minor injury to his hand. Doc is nearby and hurries out with his medicine case. Bob is especially thanked by the woman, and immediately the two find interest in each other. Josephine then confides to the friends her ambition for the youngster to become a doctor. Clem at last makes a rich strike of gold and at once starts on a career of gambling and drinking. At first Bob bars Clem from his tables on account of his family, but realizes if he does not take his money someone else will. Bob revokes his rule in Clem's favor. Josephine has come to look upon Bob as partly responsible for Clem's condition, and she believes that Bob encourages the latter to play. Clem loses everything and when he has left, Bob takes Clem's money from the safe, goes to Josephine and gives it to her. He then meets Hardy and threatens him with an awful death if he does not brace up and treat his wife and child decently. Bob then leaves and returns to the hall. Later on Clem finds that Josephine has received the money and accuses her of playing with Bob on the side. He strikes her down and leaves for the hall to find Bob. He picks a quarrel with Bob, but for the wife's sake the latter holds his hand. Clem snoots him through the hat. Peter Boy is ill and Dr. Bleeker goes to visit him. Clem sees their shadows on the wall and thinks that Bob is there with his wife. He shoots through the tent and Doc falls. Bob comes running to the spot and Clem wounds him in the shoulder. Then he jumps into his wagon and drives furiously away. The whole town rides after him. On the edge of a cliff he is lassoed and wagon and all fall headlong down the side of the steep incline and Hardy is killed. Bob is left to comfort Josephine, and tells her that someday, when he has made something more than a gambler of himself, he will come and claim her.