At the invitation of an ambitious aunt, impoverished nobleman Lord Dunster comes to the "Lazy L Ranch," whose owner Agnes Crosby, welcoming him as her aunt's friend, does not suspect the underlying mercenary motive of his visit. Jim Murray, the range boss, who has long loved Agnes, grows decidedly unhappy because Agnes, as hostess, spends so many hours riding with Lord Dunster. Aunt Mary, fearing that the distinguished Englishman has not made sufficient inroads into her niece's affections, summons Jim and tells him that she knows that Agnes loves His Lordship and would accept his offer of marriage, did she not feel tacitly bound to Jim. She begs him, for Agnes's happiness, to leave. Jim bitterly tells himself that he is only fit to be a cowpuncher and that Lord Dunster is the fit mate for Agnes. He leaves. The Englishman, who has come to love Agnes unselfishly, determines to make a clean breast of his earlier motives. He does so, throwing himself on her mercy and begging her to marry him. She is greatly impressed with his manly spirit, but confesses that there is someone else. Dunster guesses who his rival is. He sends for Jim, knowing the foreman to be "the better man."