Nell Carter is loved by two men, a rancher named Smiling Joe, and Bill Stover, a cowboy. Bill Stover is caught stealing horses. After a terrific struggle with the sheriff, Bill disarms him and escapes, but he refuses to go away. The sheriff approaches Smiling Joe and asks for his assistance in capturing Bill. Nell and Joe’s sister, Nancy, hears of this and begs him not to have anything to do with the matter, but Joe only laughs at their fears, and the incident causes a disagreement between Joe and Nell. Joe goes with the sheriff and, stealing upon Bill, they overpower him, and he is sentenced to a term of imprisonment. The months pass. Joe and Nell have made up their differences and are married. Bill is released from jail and hears of the marriage. Smarting with resentment he determines to go after Joe and to kill him on sight. A Mexican, who has overheard Bill’s declaration, seeks out Joe’s sister. Nancy, and she goes and tells Nell. Joe determines not to he caught unawares, and decides if there is to be any killing that he will get in the first shot if possible. The two men stalk each other, and finally come where two streets meet. The men know of the presence of each other, and Bill sees Joe’s gun pointing around the corner and draws back. The two women, both anxious for Joe’s safety, have followed the movements of the men, and at the critical moment Nell seizes Joe’s arm and begs him not to shoot. While Nancy seizes Bill and entreats him not to he revengeful, or to add another crime to his conscience. They bring the two men together, and Joe, anxious to please his wife, holds out his hand to Bill, who refuses to shake and goes away. Joe has to attend a round-up. Bill, seizing his chance, forges a note which he gives to a Mexican, to take to Nell. In it he tells her that as she seems to think more of Bill Stover than she does of him, that she had better hang on to him, that he is through with her and has gone away. The Mexican tells Bill the effect that the note has on Nell and he follows it up. She shows Bill the note and asks his advice. He makes violent love to her and tells her to come with him. She consents and leaves a letter for her husband, telling him that he will never see her again and that she has gone back to God’s country with Bill Stover. Joe determines to follow them and to get Nell back and to kill Bill. He gets on their track, which leads to the desert. Bill and Nell are caught in a terrible sandstorm. He drains the canteen and, throwing her aside, he turns his steps backward. Joe comes upon her in this predicament, and after finding out the true cause of her plight, he gives her water, resuscitates her and they start back for home. On the way they come across the dying Bill, who begs for water, but Joe merely kicks him and tells him to die like a dog that he is. They leave him and arriving at the edge of the desert, Joe sends Nell on alone. She has begged him not to let this man’s death mar their lives, so he goes back to try and bring Bill out to safety. Nell gets help, water and provisions and hurries back in time to save them both. Bill is now cured, and he passes out of their lives.