Winsor Glanvil pays court to Louise Carney, heiress to a fortune, and she agrees to marry him. The marriage is opposed by big Jack Rutledge, a jealous rival and formidable foe, so Glanvil and Louise plan to be married in a sequestered valley by a local clergyman. Rutledge and his supporters, learning of the plan, arrive in the valley ahead of the two and seize Glanvil. Glanvil is beaten mercilessly and Rutledge disfigures him, destroying one side of his face with the cutting edge of a spur. Rutledge then rejoins his gang in the clergyman’s house. Although Glanvil has been seriously weakened, he manages to get access to firearms and breaks in on the gang, shooting Rutledge and escaping on a stolen horse.   Deep in the hills, safely beyond pursuit but exhausted and near death, Glanvil finds a cave in which to seek sanctuary.
