Lieutenant Standing is told by Lucy Ashton that while she likes him she does not love him. Standing takes his disappointment like a man, and invites Lucy to take a drive with him that afternoon. Lucy consented, and Standing left her just as Jerry Burke came up to the store. Jerry and Lucy were friends, and he was working hard for a commission. Lucy was the daughter of the proprietor of the general store. That afternoon, as she was on her way to meet Standing, riding a new horse, something frightened the animal and it started to run away. Burke happened to see her, and dashed to her rescue. In the reaction from her fright, she found herself in his arms when Standing came upon them. Keenly disappointed as he was, he forced himself to congratulate them. Manuel Cespedes, a Mexican loiterer, seems to have plenty of money, though no one knows where it comes from. He also is in love with Lucy. He discovers the state of affairs between Burke and Lucy, and taunts her with marrying a private. He then arranges with Jerry for a private meeting. His proposition is that Jerry shall assist him in getting ammunition into Mexico. Jerry consults with Standing, and when the meeting is to take place, Standing hides in the shrubbery, to bear witness to what is said by the Mexican. Manuel and three other Mexicans arrive and are talking with Jerry when Standing sneezes. One of the Mexicans shoots Standing, while the others overpower Jerry. Manuel tears a button from Jerry’s coat and places it in the hand of the unconscious Standing. Then they carry Burke away. According to the articles of war of the United States army, an enlisted man who absents himself without leave for ten days is a deserter. Jerry is locked in a hut in the hills and no trace of him has been found. Standing is taken to the hospital, where the button is discovered. He is able to say only “Burke.” All conclude that Jerry has deserted after having assaulted Standing, but Lucy will not believe it. On the ninth day, Jerry learns that the Mexicans intend that every gringo in the region shall die. The army post is to be blown up. Some Mexicans get past the guards with a large box which they claim is full of oranges that Colonel Grayson ordered. They carry the box to the post magazine where the sentry is killed: the box is put under the magazine and the fuse lighted.
Manuel and two Mexicans go to the store and ask Lucy to show them some shirts. She goes into the storeroom and sees her father slip to the floor, stabbed. Horrified, Lucy slams and locks the door, while the Mexicans try to force it. Jerry has discovered an old knife in the straw on the floor of the hut, and cuts his feet free. When the guard comes to investigate, Jerry overpowers him and takes his uniform. Jerry jumps onto the guard’s horse and dashes for the post, arriving in time to snatch the fuse from the magazine. Then he rushes to the store, fearing for Lucy. The door is broken in; Lucy fights with the Mexicans and then breaks away from them, running from the store. Jerry rides up and begins struggling with one of the men while Manuel tries to get a shot at Jerry as he rolls on the floor with the Mexicans, but just as he takes aim, one of the troopers shoots him dead. Lucy’s father recovers; Jerry is promised a commission and Standing tells him and Lucy that the doctor says he is well enough at last to act as best man. Moving Picture World, October 13, 1917