Bruce Burt and his partner Slim Naudain prospect for gold. When Slim picks a fight with Bruce, Bruce kills him in self-defense. Bruce then discovers Slim has a sister, and decides to find her and give her half of his own gold dust in restitution. Before he can, he meets Victor Sprudell, who has been caught in a blizzard during a hunting trip. Bruce offers to find Sprudell's cook, who was left ill in a cabin. Before he leaves, Bruce tells Sprudell about Slim's sister and his plan to give her the gold dust. When Bruce does not return, Sprudell heads home to Indiana, where he opens the Bitter Root Mining Company. A reporter named Helen Dunbar is sent to interview him. Sprudell tells some of his story involving Bruce, and Helen realizes that Slim was her half-brother. Sprudell gives Helen $500, telling her that was what her brother left. Bruce returns and obtains water rights to the Company, in an attempt to control Sprudell.