Ken Thornton flees to Kentucky after the slaying of Sam McTurk, his sister's husband, and takes an assumed name. His close resemblance to the Thornton family is seen by Dorothy Harper and her father, Caleb, and they receive him as one of the family and grow to love him. Jealous of the girl's love for Thornton, Bass Rowlett tries to have him killed; Ken is seriously wounded and challenges Bass to a fight when he regains his strength. After revealing his past to Harper, Ken marries Dorothy under the roof tree planted by Ken's pioneer grandfather on the Harper land. Following the ceremony, Bass brings the sheriff and has Thornton arrested for the murder of Sam McTurk; but Thornton's sister confesses to killing Sam in self-defense. Thornton settles his score with Bass, who is disgraced and sent away.