Black La Rue was born on the Mexican border in times of raids and fights. His father was killed in one of the fights. The circumstances of his birth have in some strange way affected his character so that he can never see a fight without having an irresistible desire to join the fray. Cliff Buckley and his daughter, Jane, arrive in town. Black gets into a fight in front of their house and Jane makes him stop. He is attracted by the interest the girl has taken in him and later asks her father's consent to their marriage. When her father refuses Black is resentful and returns home in a gloomy mood. That night he decides to come to town to drown his sorrows. Jane sees him and detains him, knowing that he is bent on some mischief. Meanwhile Cliff Buckley gets into a fight over a card game and is arrested by the sheriff. As they go out of the building Buckley struggles and accidentally kills the sheriff. Jane has been standing near with Black and they both hear the shot. They are the first to reach Buckley, and seeing the sheriff on the ground, quickly take in the situation. Black, realizing the position the girl will be in, confesses that he killed the sheriff. The whole crowd has been drinking and a feeling against Black arises. He is taken in charge by a crowd who leave with him for the hills where they expect to hang him. He is taken to a tree overhanging the river, but just as they are about to hang him he manages to break away by making a wild leap for the river, far below. The men try to stop him but, by the time they can get to the river, Black has escaped. Black makes his way home and his mother looks after his bruises. Just before dawn, when he is preparing to leave the country, Jane comes in. She says that she has learned of his sacrifice and intends to wait for him. Black tells her that he is going away until he can master his strange obsession for fighting, and that he will then return. She promises to wait.