Jack Sturgess' wealthy father threatens to disinherit him if he does not marry Ruth Wells, a shop girl who is pregnant with his child. Jack instead leaves town, moves West, and settles in Hope City, Alaska, where he meets and enchants the general store proprietress, Ruby McGraw, much to the chagrin of prospector Yukon Ed, who quietly loves her. To make sure Jack does Ruby right, Yukon Ed and his friends bring a preacher and force him to make her an honest woman. Still, after the wedding, Jack begins to spend Ruby's money on other women, especially cabaret girl Fanny, and neglects his young, loving wife. On one stormy evening, she finds Jack drunk by the side of the road, wraps her own coat around him, and takes him home. When Ruby contracts pneumonia, Jack only pretends to go to find the doctor and instead heads for the dance hall, knowing that he will be a free man and get his wife's property if she dies. Yukon Ed discovers her near death, but by the time he arrives with the doctor, it is too late. A vengeful Yukon Ed tracks down Jack, drags him back to the house where she lies in repose, and tells him her last words were, "Jack, don't let me go alone." He aims his revolver at Jack's heart and sends him to join Ruby on her journey down "the darkening trail."