Clara Duncan and the man who raised her, Clyrio Soriano, have come west to find his son a painter. They learned he was with the Adams wagon train the year before in an article written by Roger Garrett who is also a member of the wagon train. Clara wanted to marry Claude but a dispute caused him to leave and go west. Claude Soriano painted a lynching he witnessed and the painting was given a great review in Garrett's article. The men in the lynching have never been caught as the lynched boy was innocent. The father wants to find the painting of the lynching to display to show how great an artist Claude has become plus see his son. Garrett is immediately attracted to Clara and continues to help her find Claude even as she tells him she committed herself to Claude years ago. Claude often painted on both sides of a canvas to save on materials. A barroom picture of Clara has her thinking Claude is still mad at her. Roger buys it for her to remove it but it causes problems when the men at the lynching realize it might reveal their identity and that they must eliminate Claude as a witness.
—Anonymous