In this Western, Frank Keenan has a dual role -- kind-hearted gambler John Lynch and evil bandit Big Rivers. The only person who realizes there is a resemblance between the two is dance hall girl Nita (Maude George), who was abused by the outlaw and cared for by Lynch.
A foppish Londoner joins the Royal Canadian Mounties and tries to break a smuggling ring.
Rustler Pete Sontag kidnaps Merlin Warner after he kills her father. Pete, a drug smuggler who uses his saloon as a front, coerces Merlin though beatings to become the dancer Mexicali Mae. She meets and falls in love with morphine addict Joe Blanchard but Pete frames Joe for a murder that he committed, forcing Mae to hide Joe in a homestead in the hills. After many struggles, Joe is cured of his addiction and proposes to Mae. She accepts, but when his mother and fiancée Eleanor arrive, they offer her money to leave, Mae refuses the money but becomes convinced that she is not good enough for Joe and writes to him that she is returning to the saloon. Joe learning of his mother’s plot arrives at the saloon and in the resultant fight Pete is killed. Mae and Joe are reconciled.
In the Old West Charles Garvin and Clarice Winslow are happily engaged. One day artist, Ed Gardner arrives seeking lodging and is welcomed into Clarice's home, where he meets the young cowboy. However, when Charles must depart for a round-up, Ed begins to charm Clarice, who seems amused by his company and a triangle develops.
Jim Blake, the playboy son of a New York millionaire, heads west to prove himself a man. He goes to work on his father's ranch in Wyoming, and eventually wins over the locals by turning the tables on a town bully and trying to collect damages from a railroad magnate, whose trains have killed many of the Blake ranch's cattle. When the railroad refuses to pay, Jim comes up with a plan that will make them pay far more than they originally had to. Problems arise when he falls in love with Alice, the railroad magnate's daughter.
Johnson, a pharmacist, makes an illicit traffic in cocaine and morphine, which he cleverly sells through his drug counter to a select clientele. In his richly furnished office, the head of the Kurson Chemical Company counts the receipts of Kurson Consumption Cure, a patented drug that contains a large amount of morphine.
Morton, encouraged by Watson, who wants to expel him from the bank, is the president who uses the bank's money for his private speculations. He gets very involved and when the matter is brought to the attention of the directors, he is asked to oblige to the default or go to prison. Morton would commit suicide except for his stenographer, Mary Lane, a beautiful and intelligent girl. She takes him in and discusses the matter with Morton's son, whom she loves.
The 15-chapter plot follows, in a fanciful manner, the General Fremont expedition into Spanish California to acquire California for the United States, and the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. Chapter titles: 1. Soldiers of Fortune 2. Red Men and White 3. A Night of Terror 4. The Empire Builders 5. A Web of Lies 6. Demetroff's Vow 7. Facing Death 8. Under the Bear Flag 9. A Ride of Peril 10. Yellow Metal and Blue Blood 11. Gold Madness 12. Crimson Nights 13. Vigilante's Justice 14. For Life and Love 15. Trail's End
Three outlaws fleeing a posse through the desert come upon a dying woman and her baby in a wagon. Before she passes away, she makes the men promise to take care of her baby and get it safely through the desert.
Jeanne La Roche lives alone with her brother in the great northwestern country. Jacques is a ne'er-do-well and has fallen under the suspicion of the mounted police, two of whom are dispatched to arrest him for robbery. The stolen goods are found in his home. Jeanne is too young to be left in their lonely cabin, so she is taken to the post, where the wife of the proprietor welcomes her and gives her a home. Several years later, Donald McLean wins her for his wife. Meantime Jacques escapes from prison, eludes his pursuers and takes refuge in McLean's home.
Outlaw Jim Lewis is on the run with his partner "Tom," as his mother tries to protect him from a sheriff and posse in a Western town. Jim narrowly escapes, "Tom's" is captured and finally there is a final shootout where Jim, despite his mother's efforts and a wound, is killed near his home, ending with the "good guys" winning.
Mollie Owens, engaged to sheriff’s deputy Dick Calvert, is taken captive by outlaw Monk Turgis and imprisoned in the "death cabin” so called because everyone shunned it after of two mysterious murders were committed there. Turgis and his friend try to scare money out of Mollie's mother, but Dick sets out on their trail. He sees one of them enter the cabin and immediately investigates.
Dan Melton is in love with Daisy Dale, who, being of a coquettish disposition, permits herself to become infatuated with Soapy Smith, gentleman gambler. Sheriff Melton is greatly worried by the continual holdups committed by Black Jack, a desperado, who has become the terror of the mountains. His excursions in quest of the bandit compel him to neglect Daisy somewhat. One day Daisy meets with an accident while riding and applies for assistance at a lonely shack in the hills. To her astonishment Soapy Smith opens the door. She accepts his invitation to enter. Once she is inside, however, Soapy betrays his real character and attacks her. Daisy's screams are heard by Morristette, a Mexican, who rushes in and intervenes. Smarting under the blow Soapy deals him, he gallops to town and informs the sheriff. On arriving at the shack to rescue his sweetheart Melton finds that Soapy Smith and the long-sought desperado. Black Jack, are one and the same.
The sheriff loses his office and a new sheriff comes in. Now the ex-sheriff is going bad, drinking, etc., with no ambition. The tough guys take advantage of his loss of ambition and indignities pile up on him and he makes no protest. He meets the new sheriff's little boy and they become fast friends.
Jerry Kane, a man down on his luck who inherits money but selflessly gives most of it to Maizie Wallace and her sick father. The money is then stolen by two crooks, Pinny Falk and Big Dan Jaffry, leading to a series of events involving a pursuit, mistaken identity, a fight, and a rescue by a posse. Ultimately, the crooks are captured, the money is recovered, and Jerry and Maizie agree to share their future together.
Miner Holton lives and works with his daughter Leota near Stormy Creek. Leota loves Dick Raleigh, though her father objects. When prospector Tom Andrews is injured near their home Leota and Dad nurse him back to health and give him work in their little mine. In repayment he intends to steal from them taking advantage when Holton is hurt while Leota is away but Dick thwarts him and he and Leota are united with her father’s blessing.
Young Jack Lewis is in love with Anna Mason, the sister of Sheriff Jim Mason. Jack is framed for a murder actually committed by a villainous bandit. After being imprisoned for the crime, Jack manages to escape. In a series of high-action sequences—including a spirit-filled defense of a cabin and a stagecoach holdup—Jack saves Anna and a stash of gold. Jack's name is eventually cleared when the true villain provides a confession, proving his innocence.
15 chapter serial. Gideon Trask and his henchmen at the saloon in Arkansas City covet the mineral survey of the Louisiana Territory made for Napoleon before the sale of the Territory to the United States. This is in possession of the Heath Brothers, who seek to use it in staking their land when the Oklahoma territory, last of the Louisiana tract to be released by the Government, is opened to Homesteaders.
Ben Darby and Pancake, his father, are owners of a mining claim in Northwest Canada. Ben goes to war, leaving Pancake to run the mine. During Ben's absence three claim jumpers take possession of the mine: one of the men is the father of Beatrice, Ben's sweetheart; another, a rival suitor. Pancake is murdered when he and Ben plot to regain the claim. Ben kidnaps Beatrice, resolving to obtain revenge through her. Ben finds that she knew nothing of the stolen claim and that her father was innocent of Pancake's murder. Ben then resolves to find the culprit and bring them to justice.
A young woman fights to keep her Wyoming sheep ranch from being overrun and destroyed by cattle ranchers.