Ranch owner John Hardy (H.C. Carpenter) becomes the dupe of Cleo Dade (Claire DuBrey, famed for her vampire roles) when he marries her and brings her home to be a mother to his daughter Rose (Betty Compson). Cleo is actually the partner of "Square Deal" Dixon (Fred M. Malatesta) and they are both in the employ of opium smuggler Mock Sing (Frank Deshon). Faro dealer John Smith (George Larkin) comes to town and takes a special interest in Rose, and in Cleo's machinations. Dixon and Hardy go out riding one day, and Dixon returns alone, claiming that Hardy was shot by bandits. Then a will is produced naming Cleo as the sole benefactor and cutting Rose out completely. Rose, suspecting that her father is not dead, hunts out Mock Sing, who attacks her. Smith saves her and there is a shoot-out between Mock Sing's henchmen and the ranch's cowboys. All ends well: Mock Sing is killed, Hardy is found alive, a prisoner of Dixon's men, and the opium-smuggling operation is shut down. Since Cleo is already married to Dixon, her marriage to Hardy is voided. Meanwhile, Smith -- who turns out to be one of those Secret Service agents who are always appearing in silent westerns -- marries Rose.
by Janiss Garza
synopsis
