An orphan (Richard Barthelmess) is adopted by Major Buford (Claude Gillingwater) is educated in Lexington and joins the Union Army as a Captain. He rediscovers his childhood sweetheart (Molly O' Day) and after his adopted father dies in the civil war, he gives up his inheritance in Kentucky for the girl he loves and moves back to be to his real birthplace to be with her.

An orphan born in Kentucky, Chad is adopted by Major Buford, who conceals his belief that the boy is his nephew. Chad is sent to school in Lexington, and when the Civil War breaks out he joins the Union Army, losing his foster father's affection along with that of Margaret Dean, his sweetheart back home. Chad, now a captain, finds that his duty takes him to the town of his birth. There he rediscovers Melissa Turner, his childhood sweetheart, and falls in love with her again. The war's end finds Major Buford dead. Offered the major's estate if he will return to the Bluegrass region, Chad declines, preferring to remain with Melissa.—Pamela Short