The movie takes place in 1803, before America owned the land west of the Mississippi River. This region was then controlled by Spain. An uproar among the American settlers in the area begins when the Spanish government puts a tax on American merchandise shipped on the Mississippi through the New Orleans port. A levelheaded settler, John Colfax (Tom Keene), convinces the townspeople that they must try to get the tax removed through peaceful means. In doing so, he makes enemies with the owner of a local fur company, Luke Gilmore (Robert Fiske), who wants to start a rebellion so he and his gang can take over Upper Louisiana. John goes to Washington to inquire about a settlement with the president concerning the tax problem. His trip east is a success. John then heads back to Louisiana (with Gilmore and the rest of the fur trappers, out to kill him). Enroute, John meets the daughter of the Spanish governor of upper Louisiana, Angela Gonzalez (Rita Cansino). When he sees she's traveling alone, he takes it upon himself to accompany to her destination. Meanwhile, Gilmore finds himself in trouble for gun smuggling. But he is able to pin the blame on John, and has him sent to jail for treason. When John's friends find out he's in jail, they immediately break him out. Once out of prison, John fixes Gilmore and the other trappers, straitens everything out with the governor, and wins Angela's heart.