Very hard to locate a full comprehensive synopsis for this lost silent western serial containing fifteen episodes. Produced by the Canyon Pictures Corporation and released in September 1920, it featured many colourful characters in very harrowing situations. The basics involve the murder of William Stillman ( L.M. Wells ) and trying to locate the heir to his fortune. Silent Joe ( Franklyn Farnum ) arrives in an effort to discover the murderer and prove that he is the only true heir. The heroine Lou, played by actress Mary Anderson joins the adventures in the mountainous terrain with its "vanishing trails." Aided by The Shadow ( William Orlamond), an unbalanced scientist with his trained dog Prince, add some remarkable, death-dealing inventions and you come up with a western serial titled Vanishing Trails. Unfortunately, this serial has itself vanished and remains on the long list of lost silent films.