Dick Evans is the corrupt boss of a rough-and-tumble munitions town called Powderville. He hires his friend, Jack Ripley, to establish a newspaper, intending merely to further his own financial ambitions; however, Jack envisions The Trumpet as an instrument of good and soon persuades Dick to clean up Powderville. Both men fall in love with Viola Argos, and both rush to her rescue when she is abducted by Red Pete and locked in a brothel run by Boston Kate. With the help of Mackey, Dick and Jack remove Viola to the print shop, but Red Pete's followers soon overpower them. With most of the town on fire, Dick urges Jack and Viola to escape. Viola, realizing her love for Dick, returns, and he dies in her arms.