The earlier scenes depict the members of the older branches of the Primrose family in the trying crises of the Revolution and the Civil War, showing their mettle and preparing the way for the incidents of the main narrative, in which the sons of that sterling race become prominent factors in the fearful death struggle of East with West. Young George Primrose, on leaving West Point, receives a lieutenant’s commission, and is detailed at once for active service in the war. Shortly after his departure his elder brother is elected to the office of president. The ancient homestead of the Primroses, which has sheltered four generations of patriotic scions of this tree, has fallen into the hands of the Japanese, who are using it as their military headquarters. The grandfather of the two boys, and old soldier of Lookout Mountain and Gettysburg, though driven from his home and failing in health, is yet a lusty and active partisan, fighting vicariously for the land he loves through the medium of his two grandsons. Lieutenant Primrose is sent to the Commander-in-Chief with a dispatch of vital importance. Attempting a short cut through an everglade, he loses his horse and becomes himself bemired, his strength having been undermined by a fresh wound from the carbine of a Japanese guerrilla. Just as he has fainted from exhaustion, Denison, his classmate at West Point, comes upon him. This man hates the young officer, as he has been an unsuccessful aspirant for the hand of Polly Blake, Primrose’s fiancée. Denison extracts the paper from Primrose’s belt, and makes good his escape. The hue and cry is out after the young lieutenant. The evidence all points to desertion. Denison pursues his advantage with the girl, declaring that he has tried to retrieve his friend’s disgrace by delivering the dispatch himself. He produces the paper as proof. Primrose is finally found and brought on to Washington for court martial. Denison’s testimony turns the case, and the order is issued to shoot the traitor. The old grandfather who loves the boy more than anything in the world, is the most unrelenting of his judges. On the day set for the execution, Polly Blake arrives at the Capitol and demands immediate audience with President Primrose. She has discovered a thumb mark in blood on the dispatch which Denison gives her. The fact that the latter has received no wound arouses her suspicions. The thumb print is identified as George Primrose’s. The president’s reprieve saves his brother from disgraceful death at the last moment, and the treachery of young Denison is unmasked to the world.