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This drama is set in an Ozark mountain community where a family is frequently assisted by an amiable old mountain man nicknamed "The Shepherd," who is actually the grandfather to the clan. Unfortunately, his son deserted the family after his young wife died in childbirth. The young son survived though and has now grown up and fallen in love with a pretty young woman who has, unfortunately, been betrothed to another. One day the other man hears a young man bragging about a bank robbery. He tells the sheriff who ends up shooting the robber during a scuffle. This tragedy inspires the Shepherd to admit that he is the grandfather to the clan. He then shares his other deep secret: he has a gold mine that has been steadily producing for many years. He ends up bequeathing the mine to his grandson's family. Later he reminds his grandson and his beloved that a betrothal is only a verbal agreement while love creates a binding contract. This frees the two to marry and share their new-found wealth with the whole community.