Tom Ellis, a young backwoodsman, is in love with Angie Lister, a country girl. Hort Ingles, a good-for-nothing, shiftless, young bully of the neighborhood is also in love with her. This rivalry is not particularly hostile until Hort, passing the house one morning, sees Tom bid Angle goodbye in a somewhat affectionate manner. That afternoon, while Hort is passing through a clearing in the forest, he accidentally overhears a quarrel between Tom and Ike Thompson. The latter had been hunting a squirrel and Tom had shot it. Ike becomes very bitter in his arraignment of Tom, and. as the quarrel progresses, he attempts to climb over a huge log, in order to get closer to Tom. In climbing over the log he accidentally discharges his gun and the shot kills him instantly. Tom and Hort are the only ones who see the accident and Hort's lying testimony sends Tom to prison for the murder. Tom serves his time in prison and, when he is finally released, he marries Angle. who has remained true and loyal through it all. About this lime a devout parson comes to the village and exerts such an influence for good in the community that Hort finally tells the truth about the Thompson shooting. Tom is cleared of all suspicion and happiness at last comes to the young couple.
—Moving Picture World synopsis