Jack Dunton, an honest gambler, discovers that his ward, Verde, wants to study mine engineering, and he begins to cheat at cards in order to finance the boy's education. Returning from school 3 years later, Verde begins to lose himself in the wild life of the town, and Jack, determined to get them both out of town, breaks off with his mistress, Grace. In revenge, Grace vamps Verde, and the two old friends come to blows; Verde and Grace elope, and Jack goes after them, saving their lives in an avalanche. This near catastrophe brings everyone to his senses: Verde goes back to Kitty, a storekeeper's pert daughter, and Grace and Jack renew their relationship.