Having struck it rich, miner John Grant journeys to town to raise capital and develop his claim. He meets old friend Bill Gould and, their direction being the same, the two men put up at the same hotel, occupy the same room, and next morning are seen to leave the hotel together. At a fork in the road, Gould turns off and his small prospector's pick falls from his pocket, unnoticed by either of them. Grant returns later and finds the pick with the name "Bill Gould" on the handle. Shortly afterwards a track repairer finds Grant's hat, suitcase, and papers scattered on the ground, with several blood spots nearby. He notifies the sheriff who, upon investigation, decides without question that a crime has been committed. Learning Gould was last seen with the victim, the sheriff decides he is the guilty man. After a week's prospecting, Gould returns to town and is at once arrested. Despite his frantic protests he is taken to the county jail and there put through a grilling third degree. His explanations are ignored and he is held for trial. Meanwhile Grant returns, and learns to his amazement of the predicament in which his friend has been placed. He rushes off to the jail and almost gives the sheriff and warden heart failure by suddenly confronting them. He at once explains the "crime" by saying he had licked a hobo who was bullying a young lad, a little blood had flowed, and when the rest of the gang made a rush for him, he ran, dropping his belongings and Gould's pick, which had been found by the officers beside Grant's belongings. Gould is at once released with apologies and at sight of his old pal, becomes almost hysterical with joy.
—Moving Picture World synopsis