Publisher's Synopsis
Robert Burton leads a solitary life in the desert as a gold prospector under the alias of Cameron. Burton is plagued by the demons of his past, but mainly the woman whom he wronged and disgraced. He encounters another man during his lonely sojourn through the desert, although he loathes to have anyone for company the two stay together. The older man discloses his identity as Jonas Warren, a man searching for his disgraced daughter who came West to start a new life when she found herself pregnant and the man she loved left her to disgrace. Burton confesses he is the man who shamed Nellie Warren, but he informs the aggrieved father that he had found Nellie and married her, thus giving their child a legitimate name. A truce is called, and Jonas forgives Burton. Unfortunately, the two men get taken by surprise by a sudden sandstorm. The two men take shelter under a rock shelf and Burton finds gold nuggets laying on the ground. Unfortunately, both men perish from the affects of the storm, but Burton is able to leave behind a note leaving half of the find to his daughter Nell Burton and the other half to whomever finds it. He also leaves his marriage certificate. Years later Richard 'Dick' Gale comes to the border town of Casita. He has come West to prove to his father that he can be a man and stand on his own two feet. Dick meets an old friend, cavalry officer George Thorne, not long after his arrival. Thorne enlists Gale's help in rescuing the woman he loves from the dangerous Mexican rebel leader Rojas. Gale's friend has fallen in love with Mercedes Castañeda, a beautiful aristocrat who had to escape Mexico after Rojas killed her father and tried to kidnap her. Rojas pursues the woman relentlessly and has followed her to Casita. Thorne encountered Mercedes after she had crossed the border and they fell instantly in love with one another. Gale agrees to help Thorne and Mercedes escape Casita and the clutches of Rojas.