Frank Miller, arriving in a California gold rush town in the days of '49, gets fleeced of all his assets in a crooked card game by a gang while his sister Mary waits in their hotel. Virginia gentleman gambler Burke Allister forces the gang to let Frank win the money back, but Frank is shot and killed by Faro Ed, whom Burke then kills. Burke and Mary leave and establish unsuccessful claims away from the town, but gang leader Dan Middleton, attracted to Mary, sends Four-Ace Baker to convince her that Burke was in on Frank's murder. Mary believes Baker, and when Burke goes to town for a doctor after Mary is injured and then he is captured by Middleton's men, Mary leaves the claim with Middleton. Burke escapes and is able to find Middleton and Mary, then fights Middleton, who falls over a cliff. Burke then wins Mary's embrace.