James Hardy and his daughter Mary, both devoted Salvation Army pioneers, are crossing the desert accompanied by Dick, a small boy, and his mother, when they are attacked by Hawk Allen and his lawless band. They are rescued by cowboy Bob Spaulding, who leads them to the town of Little Hell, where their evangelistic presence is met by opposition from the citizenry. The Hardys take over an abandoned church, and Mary attracts the attention of dance hall owner Wolf Sims who, perceiving Spaulding as a threat, determines to eliminate the cowboy. One night the church is burned and Hardy is shot. Finding Spaulding's hat nearby, Sims and his gang accuse the cowboy of the crime, after which he is imprisoned. Aided by the dancer, Luna, Spaulding escapes in time to rescue Mary from Sims's assault. In the battle between the two men, Sims is mortally beaten and on his death bed confesses that he was responsible for the fire and Hardy's death, as well as revealing that he is little Dick's father. Thus cleared, Spaulding becomes the leader of the new church, aided by Mary, his new bride.