A railroad plant is set afire by striking workmen, and the firemen are prevented from extinguishing the flames by the infuriated strikers. The troops are called out and martial law prevails. John Owens, who was counseling the men to take peaceful methods, is charged with inciting the riot and is given a ten year sentence. Mrs. Owens lives in poverty and her two children, Cyril and Mildred, go into the railroad yards, where they gather coal. Seeing the watchman coming, Cyril jumps into a freight car, while Mildred manages to escape to her home. The mother reports the loss of her child to the police, and the newspapers give much space to the case. The car in which Cyril is hiding is bound for the west and nobody notices the little fellow inside when the door is locked and sealed. The car, being laden with groceries, the little fellow does not starve, and when it reaches its destination two tramps break open the seal and Cyril jumps out and runs away. He is found by an Indian chief, who keeps him. At the expiration of Owen's term he and his wife go west. Their wagon train is overtaken by Indians and in the skirmish Cyril recognizes his mother. He saves his parents and sister from the Indians and leads them to a hiding place. Cyril is wounded and is brought back to health at the post by his Indian sweetheart, Wampa. His parents plead with him to leave the Indians and his sweetheart and, after battling with conflicting emotions, his white nature asserts itself, and he yields to his mother's entreaties,