Jess was a waif, she just came into the camp one day. Nancy, of the "dance hall," saw marks of coming beauty in the child and befriended her and guarded her closely. After three years of Nancy's care and training, Jess was graceful and pretty and had been so carefully watched that she was a stranger almost in camp. Nancy decides to have her enter the "dance hall," and to that effect makes a trade with Mike Finney, the proprietor. Jess is brought to the "hall" to dance just after Ralph West had come into the camp and entered the "hall." He, a stranger, sits apart not interested until Nancy appears with the unwilling Jess. Struck by the girl's timidity and modesty, so unlike the other dance hall girls, he watches closely as she dances with her castanets. When the floor is cleared he sees her shrink from the rude applause, and appear even more frightened when a miner. Barry, by name, draws her to a table and orders drinks. She searches the crowd for one kindly, understanding face, sees Ralph West, and mutely appeals for help. He instantly arises. Seeking the proprietor, he demands the reason of the girl's presence. Blustering Mike Finney tells him she is Nancy's protégé. West offers to buy her release, and finally does, after agreeing to pay double the sum Finney paid Nancy. West comes in time to save Jess from insult. Barry is knocked down, and Jess passes out of the hall forever, for under the guidance of the rector, whom they meet on the street, Jess finds a home with Katie O'Brian, the stage driver's wife. Ralph West stakes out a claim and befriends Jess in many ways, besides teaching her to read. Jess grows to love Ralph. Jess tries to tell her fortune with cards; the fortune is not good. As she gathers up the cards she remembers that she had heard that a fortune told with cards in the middle of a new bridge at midnight will come true. Jess resolves to go that night to the new bridge and try her luck. She goes, and sorts the cards. She is the queen of hearts, the "prospector" the king of hearts. The cards are dealt, she strikes a match and looks; the ten of spades is between the king and queen of hearts. A shadow falls on her face, slowly she picks up the cards, and goes on her way towards home. Hearing voices, she steps to one side and hides while the miner, Barry and another man approach and pause near her place of concealment. Jess hears them plan to kill West next day. Frightened, she makes her way home. Next day she warns Ralph West, who laughs at her fears. Yet alarmed for his safety, unseen watches near him. She sees Barry approach stealthily, and in her attempt to save Ralph West, Jess received the bullet intended for him. Ralph shoots Barry and tenderly lifts the wounded girl. She is carried home. The wound is fatal. The rector prays and Katie O'Brian weeps while Ralph West supports the dying girl. Jess takes the three cards from her bosom; the queen of hearts and ten of spades are bullet marked, blood stained, the king untouched. She tells them the ten of spades meant death for one of them; he had a mother waiting for him, that she didn't count; she was "nobody's child." She asks Ralph to kiss her, points upward, smiles, and is gone.