- The mind of theology student Webster Smith becomes unbalanced from strain. Traveling across the desert as God's savior, he arrives weakened at Red Butte, a small mining town. Faro Fan, who runs a saloon and gambling joint cleanly, and who cares for the town's homeless children, helps Smith, but when he learns her business, he curses her. While Smith builds a church, Faro nurses renegade Spanish Ed, who spreads a fever to her wards. After Smith prays for fire to purge the town, excepting his church, saloon keeper Delicate Hanson, trying to disinfect his bar by burning whiskey on it, starts a fire which quickly spreads to the church, while leaving Faro's house unscathed. Furious, Smith attacks Faro. When she hits his head with a club, his sanity returns, and he helps her nurse the children. After Smith leaves to get supplies, Spanish Ed, crazed with thirst, tries to attract Faro. When Smith returns, Faro shoots him, thinking he is Spanish Ed. As she nurses him to health, they fall in love.—AFI
- Webster Smith, a young theological student, is working on a thesis on religious intolerance. But he loses his mind under the strain and becomes a religious fanatic, setting out to reform the world. Meanwhile, in the town of Red Butte, Faro Fan runs a saloon and dance hall. Faro simultaneously takes care of several homeless children, including a cripple named Sugar Plum.
Smith arrives in Red Butte, weak and thirsty from his travels. Faro tends to his health. As he recovers, he cries out to a crowd "All ye who are sick in mind and body, come and be healed." Faro, thinking of Sugar Plum, decides she will take the child to Smith. But when Smith learns Faro runs the saloon, he curses her and refuses to help the child.
Smith builds a church in Red Butte. A renegade named Spanish Ed, suffering from a contagious disease, arrives in town. Faro tries to take care of him, but the disease spreads to her wards and through the town. Smith, standing in front of his church, declares that God is going to purge the town with fire, and that only his church will be left standing. Delicate Hanson, who owns a saloon, tries to disinfect his saloon with alcohol but accidentally sets the building on fire, and with it, the town. Faro rushes into the street to denounce Smith; at that moment, the wind turns the flames, destroying Smith's church and saving the saloon.
Smith declares that "the wicked shall not survive," and accosts Faro in her home. In the ensuing struggle, Faro strikes Smith on the head, and the man regains his senses. Smith joins with Faro in nursing her sick children. When the supplies are exhausted, he starts on a trip across the desert for more food. Spanish Ed, who is now crazed by the fever, breaks into Faro's home.
Faro manages to get Spanish Ed's gun away from him, but he threatens to return, saying "sometime you have to sleep, then I get you." He does return, and while he is trying to creep in through the back window, Smith is banging on the front door. Faro, thinking Smith is the Spaniard, fires at him, but only inflicts a flesh wound. She collapses, and then, upon awakening, learns that Spanish Ed fell to his death. Faro now realizes that she loves Smith, and her love has replaced the fanaticism that had occupied Smith's heart.
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