David Scanlon and his brother, Paul, leave their farm and go to California during the gold rush. Paul falls in love with Ann Drath, a dance hall pianist, and is murdered by jealous Ben Goring. David swears revenge and, working on a tip from Ann, poses as an outlaw, joining Goring's bandit band. During a raid on the town bank, David is wounded. Goring abducts Shirley Chalmette, the town doctor, to care for David's head wound, but despite her care David begins to lose his sight. He manages to force Goring to sign a confession, however, and then, although completely blind, kills him in a gunfight. With careful treatment by Dr. Chalmette, his new wife, David recovers full use of his sight.
—AFI