An eastern college youth knows nothing of the wild life of a ranch, and very little of anything else. After he is graduated - the university eventually tires of the sight of him - he gets word from his uncle that the thing he, Tom, has long feared has come to pass: His uncle has found work for him. This solicitous relative informs his nephew that if he manages his ranch for a stated time, and the ranch is still there at the end of the period set, the uncle will make him a present of the land. Tom determines to go West in real style, so he engages a valet and starts out. Meantime, the superintendent on the ranch is attempting to gain possession of the property and also of the owner's ward. When Tom arrives in town and sees the ranch he decides that it is too good to lose. One look at the ward makes him reach the same conclusion in regard to her. The superintendent believes that a speedy revelation of Tom's tenderfoot tendencies will soon cause him to take a dislike to the village. At his instigation the cowboys put Tom through a series of wild experiences, accompanied by a vast amount of gun-play, but the youth never hesitates - in his flight to get away from "those rough men." The uncle is disgusted with his nephew and drives him from him, but the pretty ward's pleas eventually make him relent. The girl rides to tell Tom that all has been smoothed over. On her return journey with him the two are held up by Mexican bandits. Tom uses his fists to such good advantage that he routs the attacking band and redeems himself in the eyes of the girl and the uncle.