Hired ranch-hand Tex Smith is smitten with Lucy Blake, who lives in the cattle settlement of Marco. Meanwhile, Indian chief Brave Bear despises the encroachment of white people and conspires with Sam Hardman to steal the town's cattle during a rodeo. Tex is mistakenly identified as one of the rustlers. At the rodeo, he tries to impress Lucy by riding a bronco. When she loses control of her horse team in the buggy race, he rescues her then must evade the sheriff's men. Red and Hardman plan to get Tex before the sheriff gets him, but Lucy, convinced he is innocent, hides him at her ranch. Tex discovers the gang's hideout and forces a confession from Hardman, who warns Brave Bear. When the Indians attack the town, Tex and his men start a cattle stampede, and Tex saves Lucy and her father from their burning house. Hardman dies, after falling on his own knife.