LeGrande, an old trapper, refuses to vacate his favorite hunting grounds when ordered to do so by Sampson and other settlers, and his life is only saved through the intervention of his daughter, Joan. The rascals soon learn to fear the girl's keen wit and daring, and Sampson, already pledged to marry Sanchezza, a Mexican girl, falls in love with Joan. Sanchezza jealously plans revenge on Joan. LeGrande builds his home on his chosen site, and shortly afterwards Chandler, a young man from the east, comes out with deeds in his possession showing that the land on which they live is his (Chandler's). He entrusts to LeGrande for safekeeping a large sum of money and some valuable documents, and Sampson, learning of this, determines to burn the cabin to the ground, hoping thus to secure vengeance on Chandler, whom Joan openly favors. It so happens that Sanchezza, equally desirous for revenge on Joan, has come to the log cabin to kill her. Hearing Sampson, she hides. Not knowing who she is, he seizes her, throws her into a room and locks the doors. He then sets the place on fire. As he is about to go, Joan enters, and after a terrific struggle, he knocks her down, ties her hands and fastens her to the wall of the burning house. On the way out he steps through a broken place in the floor and his foot is caught tightly in a bear trap directly underneath. Joan cries to him to release her, but he cannot get away himself. The flame and smoke overcome Joan, and terrified at his terrible plight, Sampson shoots himself. Sanchezza, unable to get out of the room in which Sampson has confined her, perishes in the flames. Joan is rescued before it is too late by LeGrande and Chandler, who, summoned by their neighbors, arrive in the nick of time. The death of their two enemies leaves Joan and Chandler free to marry, while LeGrande invokes his blessing on their mutual happiness.