Bob Carson, a New Englander, is betrothed to Mary Sanderson, the daughter of a neighboring farmer. Feeling that his opportunities for success in his native village are small, he tells her that he has decided to strike out for the great west, and promises to return and make her his wife just as soon as his bettered fortunes will permit him to. Months later, in Chicago, he is "broke" and out of work. The fruitless striving has almost completely broken the spirit of the young man and he feels as though he would like to end it all by taking his own life. But each time, the memory of the girl who is waiting for him, spurs him on to try again, and finally, remembering that as a boy he was interested in telegraphy, he determines to take up the work and make a success of it. Later, he is given an appointment as assistant operator at a small station in Colorado. But even then, many weary months are passed without his being able to feel that he can return to the girl in New England and marry her. The part of the state where Bob's station is situated is infested by a band of outlaws, led by the notorious "Black Jack," a man who once held a responsible position as telegraph operator and station agent. He and his band are greatly feared, and a reward of $5,000 is offered for him, dead or alive. One of the outlaws spends several days in getting information to the effect that a certain train is to carry a Wells-Fargo shipment of $300,000 in paper currency. "Black Jack" gets the message sent by this man and at once gives orders to part of his band to hold up the express train at a certain rocky pass. With another of the band he goes himself to the station, and leaving the man outside, on guard, he enters and commands Bob, who is on solitary night duty, to throw up his hands. At the point of a gun he forces him to send a message which will result in a head-on collision between the train which the bandits are to hold up and another passenger train from the east, it being the bandit's theory to cover up the robbery by a collision. Only a few seconds later, a call is heard coming over the wire. It is a message for Bob, himself, and comes from New England. The girl for whom he has worked and waited is dead. For a moment, the shock of the news stuns him completely. Then, realizing that he has lost everything that makes life worthwhile, he reaches out and starts to send a message, countermanding the order that will bring the two trains together. Divining his purpose, "Black Jack" covers his heart with the revolver and fires. Bob falls across the desk, and believing him dead, the outlaw places his revolver in Bob's hand, thinking to make it appear a case of suicide. As the outlaw turns toward the door, Bob slowly raises his head and sees the revolver. Half turning, he fires, and the bandit falls to the floor, dead. Two other railroad men, hearing the shot, rush up and dispose of the outlaw guarding the door, but when they enter the depot, they find Bob in a dying condition. He manages to tell them of the plot to wreck the trains, and one of them immediately sends a warning to hold back the train that would collide with the one the outlaws have robbed. Hardly has he seen this accomplished, when Bob again falls forward across the table. They lift him up, but they are too late. He has gone to join his sweetheart, "Across the Great Divide."