A bad fall lays up Marie, the bareback rider, in the home of Rev. Strong, the parson in the little western town. The quiet little sick room sees visitors such as never were there before: clowns, riders, ring-masters, etc. Marie cannot recover in time to accompany the show out, and they leave her at Strong's house. Strong takes a keen and kindly interest in her, and soon Marie recovers, she cannot yet join the show, so Strong helps her enjoy the quiet rural life. In doing so, however, he excites the gossip of a very circumspect element which takes wrong view of his relations with Marie, and the affair culminates in a request that he either send Marie from the town, or leave it himself. He determines to stand by her, but she believes that he will sacrifice his career in so doing, so she awaits her chances, and when a traveling circus comes to town, the call of the tan-bark arena is strong. She steals out of the house and wanders out to the white tents. But Strong, missing her, guessed at her whereabouts and, following her quickly, not only finds her, but begs her to come with him to a place where none will point the finger of suspicion that springs only from evil minds. And she goes.