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Although Universal billed this tense drama as a "Super Jewel," there's nothing epic about it -- it's a straightforward, well-told story about a signal-man and his family. David Tolliver (Rockcliffe Fellowes), his wife Sally (Virginia Valli), and their little boy Sonny (Frankie Darro) live near the mountain tower where he works. When the relief tower man (James O. Barrows) is pensioned, Joe Standish (Wallace Beery) takes his place. Standish boards with the Tollivers, and Sally's cousin Gertie (Dot Farley) makes a play for him, though Standish is more interested in Sally, a fact that is revealed as he tries to kiss her. Tolliver angrily sends him away, and on the next night he shows up drunk and late for work. Tolliver has to stay on the job and when a freight train breaks in half and runs loose, he has to derail it before it collides with the oncoming Limited. While Tolliver is busy, Standish goes after Sally and tries to force himself on her. Sonny rushes to his father for help, but Tolliver sticks to his work, knowing that many lives on the Limited are at stake. Sally, it turns out, takes care of the situation on her own -- she points what she believes to be an unloaded pistol at Standish, though it is loaded and goes off, hitting him. Both the Limited and Sally's honor are saved.