An old man from the city comes to Mutton Hollow in the Ozarks to make amends for his son, an artist, who deserted the girl who posed for a picture which made him famous, and bore his child after he left. The old man becomes a shepherd for Old Matt Matthews, the girl's father. The shepherd's kindly influence and teachings are appreciated by the mountain folk, who stop moonshiners from killing him. Young Matt loves Samantha "Sammy" Lane, the town's belle, but she is engaged to Ollie Stewart, who has promised to take her to the city when he inherits his uncle's fortune. After Ollie goes there, Sammy has the shepherd teach her to be "a lady" for Ollie, but when Ollie returns, Sammy, now transformed, disapproves of the way he has changed. She sends him away and marries young Matt. Meanwhile, the shepherd finds his son dying in a cave. He had returned and found his lover dead, and stayed to be near his son, Little Pete. The shepherd persuades Old Matt to forgive his son before the son dies.
—AFI