Baptismo, a ranch hand, and Sellers, a cowboy, quarrel over a card game. Baptismo gets the worst of it and determines to kill Sellers. Sellers and Bass, a newcomer, are rivals for the hand of Florence Steel, daughter of a neighboring rancher. On her account they have a violent disagreement, and Florence, fearing results, compels Bass to surrender his knife to her. As he moves off, Sellers tries to kiss Florence. She menaces him with the knife. Then, as he strolls away, whistling "The Dying Cowboy," she drops the blade in horror and runs into the house. Baptismo finds the knife and steals after Sellers. When, an hour later, Sellers is found, stabbed in the back, suspicion falls upon Bass, the owner of the knife discovered by the dead man's side. Believing that Florence has killed Sellers in defending herself from his advances, Bass does not deny the charge against himself. Lafe Johnson, ex-sheriff, observes the effect upon Baptismo of "The Dying Cowboy," which he happens to be humming in the Mexican's hearing. This rouses his suspicions. He watches Baptismo and finally arrests him. Popular opinion, however, is against Bass and the idea that Baptismo is the guilty man is jeered at. Johnson, in desperation, suggests that the two men's lives be staked upon the dice. By a clever trick the ex-sheriff makes fate decide against Baptismo, who then confesses. Florences asks Bass's forgiveness forgiveness for misjudging him, and later they are married.