As described in a film magazine review,[3] prior to the American Civil War, Tom Rumford, Southern born but reared by Philadelphia relatives, returns to Mississippi when 21 years old and becomes engaged to his cousin Elvira. Unused to the stern traditions of the Southern code of honor, he is driven from home in disgrace, stigmatized as being a coward, and loses his sweetheart's love when he refuses a challenge to fight a duel. Later, he meets General Orlando Jackson, a famous gunfighter. Jackson develops the young man into a dangerous shot and fighting man under the name Colonel Blake. With his honor cleared, he returns to his Mississippi home and visits his folks, who now bow down to him, and he weds Elvira's younger sister Lucy.
^Pardy, George T. (March 29, 1924). "Box Office Reviews: The Fighting Coward". Exhibitors Trade Review. New York: Exhibitors Review Publishing Corporation: 26. Retrieved October 24, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
