When Tom Harkins, the owner of the Circle H Ranch, is plagued by a series of outlaw raids, neighbor Dorothy Hendrick suggests asking attorney John Tolen for help. Unknown to them, Tolen is in league with the outlaws, who are led by Gunhand Garrick and are after gold on the Harkins' property. Under Tolen's orders, Garrick ambushes the Harkins family and shoots Tom and his wife. Dick Williams, a drifter, hears the gunshots and rides to the ranch but arrives too late to save the couple. Dorothy, also drawn by the sound of gunshots, rides to the ranch, where she and Dick vow to catch the killers and care for little orphaned Billy Harkins. When Dorothy finds gold in the river that runs through the Harkins' ranch, she suspects that Tolen is behind the violence, and she and Dick set a trap for the lawyer. Meanwhile, Tom's brother Rex arrives to take care of Billy and falls in love with Tolen's niece, Nora Pryde. While out riding one day, Nora, Billy and Rex are taken captive by Garrick. Desperate when Billy fails to return from his ride, Dorothy accuses Tolen of kidnapping. After learning that his niece is also missing, Tolen rides to Garrick's hideout and the two men shoot it out. Dick has trailed Tolen and captures the outlaws. All ends happily with the union of Nora and Rex and Dick and Dorothy.