On Christmas Eve, the orphaned Joan escapes a cruel mistress and finds refuge at the White family estate. After Joan convinces young Rodney White, who suffers from white plague, not to take his own life, he takes her out West, along with his Aunt Prudence, in hopes of recovering his health. There they learn that Major Philips is selling whiskey at an Indian settlement. Threatened by the discovery, Philips hires the renegade Chawa to kill Rodney and kidnap Joan. Rodney is only injured, however, and he recovers with the aid of the hermit Dr. Norman. After rescuing Joan from her kidnapper, Rodney learns that he is cured, and he and Joan fall in love.—AFI