Gone daft through years of searching for El Dorado, the old miner thinks that the vein of iron pyrites he has found is a lode of rich gold-bearing earth. With frantic joy he displays his samples at the saloon in town, and invites everybody to celebrate his luck. The knowing ones kindly congratulate him and wink at each other; a young prospector saves the situation by secretly giving the bartender money with which to cash the "nugget" tendered by the old man in payment for the drinks. A greaser among the crowd sees the transaction and believes that the old miner has really struck gold. He determines to rob him of his claim and follows when the veteran, with elaborate caution, proceeds to his mine. The young prospector and the sheriff are rivals for the hand of the miner's orphaned niece, and bad blood arises between them. The sheriff threatens openly to "get something on" his rival. Under the influence of liquor he follows the prospector and sees him shoot the greaser, who has apparently killed the crazy miner. The sheriff takes advantage of his authority to arrest his rival, and handcuffs him, although he protests that border law justifies his act. On the way to town the sheriff stumbles and falls to death. The prisoner contrives to take the key to the handcuffs from his pocket, and after a vain effort to release himself, is freed by the girl.
—Moving Picture World synopsis