Dallas Walters and James Barker, two young farmers, love Ruth Barton. Dallas is the favored suitor, and this incites the jealousy of Barker to such an extent that he threatens to foreclose the mortgage on the house of Mrs. Walters, Dallas’ mother. But the demand is met by Dallas, much to the surprise of Barker, who then picks a quarrel with Dallas. A tramp who had heard Dallas tell Ruth of his payment to Barker, goes to Barker’s house with the intention of stealing the money, but is caught by Barker. In the fight which follows the tramp hits Barker on the head, rendering him devoid of his reasoning powers, but Barker manages to fire a shot at the tramp, who, in falling down, knocks over a lamp, which sets the house on fire. Barker walks out of the burning house unseen by anyone. Dallas hears the alarm of fire and rushes to the home of Barker, believing that he is responsible for the fire, on account of the squabble he had with him. He is seen coming out by the housekeeper and is arrested. By the aid of Dallas’ brother he makes his escape from the courthouse. They go to the mountains, pursued by the sheriff and his posse, where they discover Barker, whom they thought had perished in the fire. Barker, whose reason has been returned by a fall, explains his fight with the tramp who had perished in the fire. This exonerates Dallas, who immediately marries Ruth.