John Smith, a writer of western stories, receives a letter from Helen Parker, who teases him for writing about the West without ever having been there. She invites him to come and see the real West. Before his arrival, she arranges a fake holdup, putting on clothes that resemble those worn by outlaw Lightnin' Smith and gives the "stolen" money to John. The sheriff pretends to arrest John, who then escapes. In the confusion, Helen's father is accidentally shot. Helen tells John about the trick she played on him, but neither of them knows that the real Lightnin' Smith is in town. As he is leaving Helen's ranch, John meets Lightnin', but assumes he is part of Helen's joke until the outlaw hits him. John retrieves the money the bandits have stolen from Helen's father, and Lightnin' is shot by one of his own men, who mistakes him for John.