Harvey Fiske, with an inherent streak of cowardice, is a newcomer at Childs' ranch. He introduces himself to Mr. Childs, his niece Anne, and Tom Beckett. Tom bears a silent love for Anne; she admires young Fiske. Harvey asks her to marry him and gains the consent of her uncle. After their marriage, the Mexican, who threatened Fiske, returns and demands a loan of fifty dollars from him, which he grants, plainly showing he is afraid to refuse. The "Greaser" again threatens him. Anne defies him and drives him from the house. His fellow citizens elect Fiske sheriff. He is told a bandit is lurking in the vicinity whom he must arrest at once. Fiske is seized with fear and refuses to go. Anne's suppressed feeling of contempt arouses her to a determination to hide her husband's "yellow streak" by taking the bandit herself. She runs him down and in exchange of shots, kills him, and makes her husband take the dead man to town, claiming for himself the capture of the robber. His friends and neighbors are proud of him. Anne, in a state of collapse, watches from her home the honor which she has brought to her husband, rather than have a blot upon the escutcheon of her family.