Synopsis

Shortly after the wars in the far west between the Indians and settlers, Jim Carson, a prospector and his pretty wife, settle in a cabin on the mountainside near his claim. Jim has a violent temper which has caused misery to his wife, but the day comes when she can no longer bear his cruelty and she decides to leave him. She packs a few belongings and is about to leave when a thirsty young prospector, in quest of water, stops her at the door. After receiving the filled bottle he asks to escort her safely over the mountains, not knowing why, or whither she is bound. She accepts his offer and they take up the tiresome trail. All would have gone well, had not a band of renegade Indians filled with liquor espied them. The Indians plan to exterminate the little party. The battle for life begins and is heard by Jim Carson who rushes to their aid, not knowing that his wife is one of the party. After a personal encounter with one of the renegades, he finally scatters and defeats them. Then the crash occurs. He discovers his wife whom he believed was home in her cabin. He is about to send a bullet crashing through the brain of the wounded and unconscious prospector, but the pleadings of his wife stays his hand and he decides to give Carson a fair and square chance for life, so he carries him back to his cabin and permits his wife to nurse him back to health. Weeks pass and the young prospector recovers. He is ready to start again on his journey when he is confronted by the irate husband who demands satisfaction. There is no alternative; he must fight a duel or receive an assassin's bullet. He chooses the former. The duel is about to be enacted when an Indian shoots and kills Carson from ambush. Turning quickly Collier sees the escaping Indian and shoots him through the heart. The young wife who has followed the men, hoping to prevent the duel, rushes in only to find her husband lying cold on the ground. Like a tigress she springs at the prospector, who finally manages to convince her that he is guiltless. She exonerates him and begs him not to leave her alone. He remains while she kneels and mourns over the untimely end of her husband, fully realizing that once she loved tinman, now still in death.