Colonel Dabney Mills, whose Southern plantation is heavily mortgaged, makes a trip to New York hoping to borrow money from James Adams, his granddaughter Anna Belle's husband. When the colonel arrives, he learns that Adams's entire capital is tied up in a big stock deal, and that he is therefore unable to lend the colonel any assistance. While Adams is away, one of his business partners entrusts the colonel with $5,000 to retain for his grandson-in-law. Desperate, the colonel speculates in cotton on the tip of an old friend and loses the money. Conscience-stricken, the colonel returns to his plantation determined to take his life, but Adams, successful in his deal, arrives just in time to prevent the tragedy.

Threatened by foreclosure of a mortgage on his Red River plantation by Silas Peters, a loan-shark of the North Carolina village of Milford. Colonel Dabney mills is brooding over his financial difficulties when Paul Darrell, a keen young Northern businessman, arrives with an offer to buy the property. The Colonel, poor but proud, refuses to sell. While they are sipping juleps, Miss Betty calls. Darrell is fascinated by the Colonel's charming neighbor. Colonel Mills receives a letter from his granddaughter, wife of a rich New York broker, James Adams, and decides to go to the money-mad metropolis for funds to save his home. He finds Adams involved in a market coup without any free money, as are other financiers to whom he appeals. Meanwhile Betty and Darrell are rapidly being enmeshed by Cupid. While the Colonel is alone in the Adams home, a business partner of Adams entrusts him with $5,000 belonging to Adams. The Colonel takes a flyer in cotton on the tip of an old comrade and loses Adams' money. Conscience-stricken and crushed by his first dereliction, he leaves a note telling of his dishonor and desire to die and returns to Milford. His comrades turn out en masse to welcome him home. Adams wins his market drive, and finding the Colonel's note, starts south to lift the mortgage. Just as the Colonel is cocking his dueling pistol to end all troubles, Adams and Darrell break down the door. The Colonel then learns through Darrell that valuable coal deposits underlie his plantation.