A smothering mother, Mrs. Jacob Politz, stands in the way of the engagement of her college son Frank Politz to local girl Anne, because she, as the wife of Jacob Politz, an ill-educated coal miner, believes their son should obtain a college education.

A deputy comes upon a young girl who has been fired and cheated out of her wages by her former employer. The deputy helps her get what's due her, and accompanies her to her hometown, where they discover that her stepfather has plans to marry her off to a big-time smuggler.

The story is motivated by a long-standing feud, which comes to a head when each of the warring families tries to adopt an orphan girl who is about to receive a huge inheritance.