Penelope Huntington is returning from England where she was raised by her mother to see her father Sgt. Bart Huntington who is posted at a remote outpost. Huntington is severely wounded during a Ute attack so he asks Cpl. Clay Taylor to find his best friend Ruddy Blaine. He wants Ruddy to bring his daughter to him as quickly as possible. Ruddy with his Shoshone friend The Serpent and Clay go for Penelope using The Serpent's secret trail. Penelope with Hawks return to the outpost with Ruddy. They start on horseback but when spotted by the Utes they go on foot and canoe to reach the output. It is abandoned with dead men staked out front with Sgt. Huntington left alone. On his deathbed, Huntington makes Ruddy and Penelope agree to marry. Unknown to Ruddy, Clay an orphan raised by Ruddy has fallen in love with Penelope. After Huntington dies and the dead buried, the group starts the trip back. Ruddy realizes something has changed between him and Clay but Clay denies it. The group is attacked by a band of Utes during which Clay after hesitating saves Ruddy. When Ruddy learns Clay plans to join the train, he talks to Clay finally realizing the issue. He releases Penelope from her father's request realizing she as well as Ruddy had issues with the promise.
—Anonymous