Tom Daton, deputy marshal, is ordered to Chico County to keep an eye upon a number of desperate characters reported to have been terrorizing that vicinity. Bess Jackson, a beautiful young woman, acts as faro bank dealer in an adjacent county, and when Tom arrives there he is much attracted by her beauty. Gene Hammond, a wealthy mining man, bids his wife farewell and goes to Chico County to develop a claim. There Doc Breede, leader of a gang of desperadoes, resents the appearance of the deputy marshal on the scene, and plans with his gang to make away with Tom. He plots with confederates that they shoot through a window and kill the deputy marshal making it appear that Hammond did the shooting. The shots are fired, but just at that instant, Tom unconsciously withdraws from range, and it is one of Doc Breede’s pals who is struck by the bullet. Hammond is arrested by the sheriff and charged with doing the shooting. His revolver, which bad been tampered with, is placed in evidence. Hammond’s wife, hearing of his Incarceration, rushes to his aid. Tom, the deputy marshal, believing in Hammond’s innocence resolves to force a confession from Doc Breede. He does so, and after an exciting battle with the desperadoes, members of the gang are rounded up. As a reward for breaking up the plot, Tom claims Bess Jackson as his bride.