Caleb Webster, a stern farmer who will not sanction the presence of a "fool lawyer" in his household, turns his son Joel from his house, after which Joel settles in Gatesville. There he meets Beulah Rogers, the daughter of newspaper editor Pliny Rogers. When Rogers forces Hilary Rose, the Republican nominee for district attorney, to withdraw from the race because of his shady past, Joel is induced to run and wins the election. Rose, brooding over his disgrace, shoots himself in a drunken rage. Joseph Hargan, a discharged printer, witnesses the incident and, in an attempt to get even for his firing, accuses Rogers of the shooting. Joel is called upon to prosecute the father of the girl he loves but just before trial learns Hargan's motive, thus obtaining Roger's release. This infuriates the political bosses, who decide to tar and feather Joel. Before they can carry out their plan, Beulah forces Hargan at gunpoint to confess his act of perjury. The mob then releases Joel, who is forgiven by his stern father and wins the consent of Rogers to marry Beulah.