Mary Adams, about to visit relatives in a distant part of the country, is entrusted to the care of Manuel Bond. The girl's beauty inflames Bond, a gambler and a scoundrel. That night, when the stagecoach halts, Mary is horrified to discover that Bond has registered for both as man and wife. The gambler turns a deaf ear to the girl's frantic pleas. After locking her in the room, the scoundrel proceeds to the barroom. Mary escapes by means of the window. The girl comes upon a party of settlers. Mary joins the party. Later, the girl meets Kit, a young backwoodsman. It is a case of love at first sight and the two are married the same day. Six years pass. Manuel Bond, who has fled to the Arkansaw country because of an unfortunate Mississippi River encounter, hears a familiar tune being played. He comes upon Kit, who is trying to play a tune he had heard upon the Mississippi, but cannot recall the last half of it. By taking the violin from Kit's hands and finishing the air. Bond wins his friendship. The gambler discovers that Mary is Kit's wife. Later, when the backwoodsman goes to shoot a bird for dinner. Bond threatens to kill Kit unless Mary agrees to run away with him. Terrified, and fearing lest the gambler slay her husband who is unconscious of what is transpiring, the unfortunate woman consents. Seizing her three-year-old daughter, Alice, Mary enters Bond's buckboard and flees with him. Upon Kit's return, a neighbor informs the husband of what has happened. Mad with rage, Kit follows. He comes upon the three just as they are being ferried across the river. Kit and the gambler engage in a pistol duel. A bullet strikes Kit. The man drops. Crazed by the sight, Mary leaps into the river and is drowned. Bond continues his flight, carrying little Alice with him. Upon his recovery, Kit returns to his cabin. Desiring to obliterate all thoughts of Mary from his mind, the man burns the cabin to the ground. Fifteen years pass. Bond has resumed his nefarious profession on the Mississippi under an assumed name. Fortune has smiled upon Kit, who is a prosperous stock-raiser. The two men meet in a saloon, and although neither recognizes the other, each is filled with an instinctive hatred. Alice has been placed in a convent by Bond. The girl believes the gambler to be her adopted father. The incidents of the past dwell but faintly in her memory. Bond, desiring to use Alice in his gambling operations, orders the girl to come home. Kit, now known as "The Arkansaw Traveler," witnesses the meeting between the two and is instinctively drawn towards the girl, finding something hauntingly familiar about her. The stock-raiser takes passage on a steamboat which is to make a trip down the river. When about to board the vessel, he comes to the aid of Frau Peddler, a German woman, who has been pickpocketed by one of Bond's gang. Aided by Judge "Snuggs," "Major'' Squigs and other henchmen, the gambler plans to rob the safe of the steamboat during the trip. Alice, who is among the passengers, comes upon Kit while the latter is playing the famous air, "The Arkansaw Traveler." The tune revives the old memories. Despite the years that have elapsed, the girl gradually recalls the terrible incident on the river. James Temple, a young planter, is traveling with his widowed mother. Temple and Alice fall in love with each other. Aware of the fact that the boy is in possession of a large sum of money. Bond inveigles him into a game of cards. Mrs. Temple sees that her boy is losing his last dollar. Her grief attracts the attention of Kit and he promises to help her. Kit discovers that Bond has stacked the cards. "The Arkansaw Traveler" calmly announces his intention of sitting in the game and cleverly succeeds in cleaning the crooks out of the money they won from Temple. Returning the money to the boy Kit warns him never to play with thieves. Enraged, the gamblers attempt to shoot Kit, but are awed by the ugly pistols he levels at them. That night. Kit comes upon Alice. In the kindly face of "The Arkansaw Traveler," the girl recognizes her father. Meanwhile, disguised as deckhands. Bond and his men set fire to the steamboat, and in the excitement which ensues, rifle the safe. Bond comes upon Kit who holds his long-lost daughter is his arms. Stealing from behind, the gambler stabs "The Arkansaw Traveler" and seizing Alice, throws her into the boat which his accomplices have waiting alongside. The desperadoes row to shore. Kit revives, and despite the throbbing wound in his shoulder, leaps into the river and follows. The blazing steamboat is beached and the panic-stricken passengers leap ashore. Frau Peddler had seen the villains at work and informs the ship's officers as to the identity of the culprits. A posse is immediately formed to search for the men. When Alice, who has fainted, recovers consciousness, she finds herself in an old shack with Bond and his men. Her attempts to escape are frustrated. The posse, headed by Temple, capture the crooks. Bond makes for the river and is confronted by Kit. The two engage in a terrible bowie knife duel. Realizing he faces death, Bond, in desperation, leaps into the river. Kit follows his man. Both disappear beneath the waters. Bubbles rising on the surface tell of the awful struggle going on. A hand suddenly emerges from the water and convulsively clutches at the air. It disappears. Kit, swimming ashore finds Alice in Temple's arms.