At a remote Canadian trading post, Pierre Baptiste, a simple French Canadian, loves Marcette, the storekeeper's daughter. In midwinter, Stannard, a stranger from England, arrives in search of a gold claim and infatuates Marcette. Urged on by Nefferton, a supposed friend who plots to steal his claim, Stannard sets out on the eve of a storm; and Marcette, fearing for his safety, sends Pierre after him. He finds Stannard unconscious in the snow and saves him; Stannard then induces Pierre to work his claim with him, and during the summer they strike a rich gold vein. While Stannard is recuperating from an injury, Nefferton seeks to jump the claim, but Pierre discovers that Nefferton has incorrectly filed the location notice. In a race to the recorder's office, Pierre wins and also learns that he is still loved by Marcette.