Jose, son of wealthy plantation owner, Don Luis, gambles. Pedro, who keeps the gambling hall, and Paquita, a pretty dancing girl, plan to ensnare him. Jose owes them money. They demand payment, but Don Luis will not give the money. Jose is betrothed to Mercedes, the daughter of Don Rafael. A new mission is being built at Austi. Jose promises to pay his debts on a certain night and when he does not meet Pedro, the latter goes to his home and sees Don Luis secreting his money in a desk. Later he is in the act of taking the money when Jose, hearing a noise, comes and makes Pedro give up the money and also him the I.O.U.s. Pedro then makes his getaway. Don Luis comes upon the scene and mistaking his son for a burglar shoots him, when he discovers the I.O.U.s in Jose’s hand he thinks that Jose was attempting to rob him. Pedro flees with Paquita and becomes the head of a bandit outfit who are informed of a caravan with rich furnishings for the new mission. They capture this, but one priest escapes and informs the Padre in charge of the mission. He calls the people together and with Don Luis at their head, they capture the bandits, and Pedro is wounded. Dying, he asks for Don Luis and Mercedes, who upon the death of the lover, has become a sister. To them he confesses his part in the killing of Jose and thus the name of Jose is cleared from the stain.