Disregarding the sanctity of "Song Bird's" feelings, John Strong, a young surveyor in the pioneer forests of the west, makes love to the Indian maiden whenever he chances to meet her, until she longs and looks for his coming and going, and finds that he has made himself part of her life. She learns shortly afterwards that Strong has a wife and child. Her heart bleeds for revenge when she is scorned by the man whom she trusted. She tells Chief Kahgahgee, her father, when he asks her the cause of her sadness, the story of the treatment she had received from Strong. The Chief swears she shall be revenged. "Song Bird" tells him where Strong's home is and he stealthily approaches the shack of the white man, where he beholds him and his wife, with their little child, who is fair-haired and hears a peculiar birth mark upon its arms. Waiting his opportunity, Kahgahgee steals the child, takes it to his tepee and "Song Bird" brings it up as her own, calling the little one "Yellow Bird." Twenty years later, John Strong, now a widower, meets "Yellow Bird," recognizes her by her golden hair and the mark upon her arm, and tries to persuade her to return with him to his home. She does not know him and clings to "Song Bird,'' the only mother she has ever known, happy to be with her and the young Indian Brave to whom she is betrothed. Strong calls upon the law to gain possession of his child, but being of age, she is at liberty to choose for herself, and remains with the people of her adoption. Strong returns to his lonely shack and meditatively ponders over his past folly, silently accepting the visitation of his indiscretions in loneliness and remorse.