Reports of the great gold strike reach the village and three sons of the old couple resolve to seek their fortunes in the desert. The fourth son refuses to go with them and is disdained by his sweetheart, who thinks him a weakling. But when she sees him daily comforting his parents and realizes that but for them he, too, would have gone adventuring, she repents her hasty decision and weds him. Meanwhile the three brothers have separated in quest of gold. The first almost perishes in the desert before he is found by friendly Indians, who succor him. Later he strikes gold, and is engaged in his mine when the second brother, after a fruitless search, reaches the spot. Accidentally, while peering over the brink of the hole the newcomer starts the excavated earth in a landslide which crushes out his brother's life. The sight of gold causes him to forget the tragic circumstance and he works the mine. Presently the third brother stumbles across the spot. Demented by thirst and privation, he resolves to rob the unknown miner. Drawing his pistol, he fires pointblank into the excavation. The miner, hearing the shot, also draws his weapon and fires. Both are fatally wounded. Before death comes they recognize each other. A little later only three skeletons remain to mark the spot.
—Moving Picture World synopsis