Colorado

Frank Austin, a soldier, one day sees Colonel Kinkaid, his superior officer, abusing a little lame newsboy, and in a passion knocks the coward down. He is court-martialed for this and given a sentence of five years. That night the newsboy aids him to escape from the guardhouse, and Austin sets out for Colorado. Thomas Doyle is a professor of languages in a college and lives happily with his wife, Mary, and Kitty, his sister. His wife's health has been failing for some time, and at last the doctor tells them the only hope for her is that she seek a drier climate. On the way Doyle, his wife and Kitty make the acquaintance of Colonel Kinkaid, who is going to Denver on business, and makes himself useful to the party. Kinkaid wires a henchman of his, Staples, a gambler and crook. By acting as Kinkaid's agent, Staples gets Doyle to invest in worthless land, leaving Doyle with a balance of only five hundred dollars. Austin has been working a claim just above the tract bought by Doyle, and one day while he is working he is accosted by one of the natives, Old Morgan, tells him that he will never find anything there, whereupon Austin shows him some samples taken out of the claim which prove to be rich in gold. With the dry season Doyle finds everything on his land is dead and Old Morgan tells him that his land would be rich if it was irrigated, but that it is worthless as it is. Doyle is discouraged over his finances, but finds consolation in the fact that his wife is very much improved. Staples had noticed Austin working, and stealing some of the ore, takes it to Kinkaid and the two have it assayed. It proves to be very rich and they plan to work the young man out of his claim. Kitty and her brother are out hunting one day and discover Austin wounded by a blast. They pick him up and take him to Doyle's house. They find that Kinkaid has arrived at Doyle's, and made himself very much at home. Kitty is sent for water, and after she has been gone a long time, her brother goes in search of her. He finds her in the grasp of Staples. They fight and Staples confesses that Kinkaid was back of the land deal. Kinkaid recognizes Austin and makes the ex-soldier give him a partnership in his mine. The mine is developed, and Doyle accepts a position as foreman. Kinkaid has given Mrs. Doyle a revolver, and one day takes her for a hunt. Staples accosts Doyle at the mine. Doyle thrashes him and Staples swears revenge. Later, when Doyle and Kitty have gone down in the mine, Staples m