Drifting into Coyote County, Broncho Billy, an outlaw, sizes up the town saloon and gambling tables, finds nothing of interest and is only put on the alert when the incoming stage pulls up before the little general store and a strong-box of express money is carried in. Broncho watches keenly and returns to the saloon with a grim smile playing over his ruddy face. Next morning the storekeeper makes the startling discovery that the express guard is bound hand and foot and the money is gone. Meanwhile, at the edge of town, Broncho sorts over the stolen loot and rides on. A few hours later he comes upon a covered "prairie schooner" driven by Vedah Barclay, a pretty girl, and finds she is taking her sick mother back home to a little town across the desert. Broncho is able to aid Vedah in preparing a fire, and is making some coffee when he suddenly discovers the approach of the sheriff's posse. Vedah proves a spirited girl, hides Broncho in the wagon and sends the posse off on the wrong trail. Filled with gratitude, Broncho sees Vedah and her mother safely on their way. The next night Broncho dismounts before a small shack, and, receiving no answer to his knock, enters and finds Vedah and her mother unconscious on the floor from thirst and exhaustion. With but one thought of getting them to the town for medical treatment, Broncho dashes down to the trail, holds up the stage-coach, forces the passengers to climb out, mounts the seat, drives back to the shack, places the two unconscious women inside and starts furiously for town. Meanwhile, the posse come upon the stage driver, learn of the affair and start in pursuit. They overtake Broncho as he pulls up before the doctor's cottage and the sheriff mortally wounds him before he can explain. Finding the unconscious women in the coach the heroism of the outlaw is realized, but he dies in spite of the heroic efforts made to save him, while Vedah sobs out her grief over his body.