After a year of married life a young mother learns the real metal of her mate, a coward who, fearful of the strife of the world, deserts her and the child. It is a terrible blow, and she feels that she cannot survive it. She summons her brother to her deathbed and into his hands she delivers her written accusation of the cur and with her last breath charges him with the duty, vengeance. Such a character as the brother's needs no charge to bring the villain to justice, and, armed with his photograph, he starts west, whither the deserter has fled. We now see him, after a long search, entering a barroom for refreshment. He is a stranger in a strange land, and the frontiersmen eye him askance. He is scanning their faces, too, but they do not know it. Suddenly a new figure appears; he cannot believe it, looks at the photo again; it is the man he is looking for! The new arrival invites The Stranger to a drink. The latter accepts, then just as sociably, asks his man out for a walk. They are both out on a snow-clad load, and suddenly The Stranger confronts the Other with his photo and the letter. He is right, the coward acknowledges, but suddenly makes for his gun. He is just a second too slow, and the avenging brother covers him with his own in addition. Instead of killing him as he deserves, he gives him a chance by throwing both pistols in opposite directions, each to run for his. The Stranger is quicker, and his aim is deadly. His sister is avenged. Jane, a backwoods girl, has seen the strange duel, and summons "the boys," who go out on the trail to find the murderer, while Jane goes home. All day the man hunt is on, and Jane is about to retire when The Stranger enters through a window. Circumstances force her to be quiet, he waits his chance, then steps out right into the hands of the vigilantes! Her evidence is against him. He is bound to a horse, and is about to be hanged when a well-directed bullet severs the rope. The horse dashes off and a few shots follow the fleeing animal. It was Jane's bullet. Almost without knowing it, she has fallen in love with The Stranger and in trying secretly to save him is wounded. The next day Jane sees for the first time that The Stranger has dropped his sister's letter in her room. She realizes his nobility of character, also why he killed the man. She tells the boys. They go out, lasso him, bind his eyes, lead him back to Jane, and hide. When she comes in and sees him there is a pretty love scene, and what do the indulgent boys do but surprise the cooing couple by leaping out from under bed, chairs, and every corner of the room!