Calhoun, a planter, lives with his son and daughter, James and Martha. He strongly objects to young Gordon, who has been paying court to Martha and who has the reputation of being a gambler. Calhoun forbids Gordon from entering the house. One day as Gordon is traveling up the river he sees Calhoun who is returning from the sale of his cotton crop and is counting his money on the deck. Meredith, an unscrupulous gambler, also notices Calhoun and determines to relieve him of his money. Meredith proposes a friendly game of cards and after some hesitation, Calhoun consents. Through the stateroom window Gordon sees that Meredith is cheating Calhoun. He therefore enters the room boldly and insists upon taking part in the game. When Calhoun stakes everything Gordon cheats and walks out with the money. Broken in spirit, Calhoun jumps overboard. Meredith finds cards on the floor and sees that Gordon has cheated. He hastens forth to expose him. Meanwhile Gordon has written the following note and tossed it into Calhoun's stateroom, "I cheated for the first time in my life but it was to save you from a scoundrel who was cheating you. At the first opportunity I will return your money." As he walks away from the stateroom Gordon is set upon by the passengers who have been incited by Meredith and the young fellow is obliged to jump overboard. When the boat is docked Meredith goes to the Calhoun home and informs the planter's son that his father is dead through Gordon's treachery. A search party is organized and with bloodhounds they set forth to capture the fugitive. The note is discovered in the cabin and brought to Martha, who follows the pursuers and rescues Gordon in his time of peril.