Steve Carson, a mine foreman, is a gambler, given to drinking to excess and brutal to his wife, a woman of superior quality, who lives in constant fear and dread of him. The miners all hate him. One day, Blake, a young prospector from the east, arrives at Rex Gulch, and is invited up to Carson's home with some of the other men, to play poker. There Blake notes Carson's ugly treatment of his wife and feels sorry for the woman, but says nothing. Carson wins repeatedly at poker, and Blake goes "broke." He saunters outside and finds Mrs. Carson weeping bitterly over her hard lot. He talks soothingly to her and Carson, coming out, finds him telling her of life in the East, while she listens interestedly. He orders his wife into the house, after bidding Blake a curt good night. Later, Blake catches Carson cheating at cards, takes him aside and threatens to expose him to the rest of the players unless he swears to treat his wife right. Carson humbly promises, but claims she is not his wife. Blake is horrified. Carson's crooked card playing is discovered by some of his victims and he is shot dead by Hungarian Joe. In Carson's coat Blake finds his marriage certificate to Mrs. Carson, and hands it to her with a light heart. Later he leaves for the east and says, "Mrs. Carson, when I return. 1 am going to ask you to become my wife. May 1 hope?" The radiancy of her face implies the certainty of her response.