Mamie is the daughter of Pa Lane postmaster and keeper of the general store in a little mining town. Hugh loves Mamie and Mamie loves Hugh. Therefore when Hugh wants to go out prospecting for gold Pa Lane grub-stakes him. Hugh promises to divide his gold with Pa Lane providing of course that he strikes gold. In New York the aristocratic Van Loons are broke. Work horrors no. Who ever heard of a Van Loon working? Their only hope lies in marrying their son Bertie to a girl of wealth. Their friend Mrs. Catherine De Launcy agrees to help them. But dear little Bertie is not what his name implies. He loves a girl a poor girl it is true but he loves her. Then the newspapers announce that Hugh has made a fortune and true to his word divided it with Pa Lane. Suddenly Mrs. De Launcy is struck by a thought. Mamie Lane is her niece. She has it all planned out. Pa Lane gets an invitation from her to visit New York and to bring Mamie. Like all Western millionaires he makes the trip. Dissatisfied with Bertie's love affair and fearful of his marriage to the poor girl Alice Mrs. Van Loon pays her a visit. In eloquent style she pictures the terrible things that would happen if Alice poor wretch were to marry Bertie. Steeped in sorrow Alice agrees to give him up. When Mamie gets to the city with Pa Lane Mrs. De Launcy and the Van Loons have it all fixed for Bertie to marry her. But Mamie sighs and thinks of Hugh and Bertie sighs and thinks of Alice. Neither of the two can act and each soon realizes that the other is in love with someone else. Immediately they have a common interest not to marry each other. Pa Lane learns the truth. He sends for Hugh to come to the city. Also he makes a few plans of his own without consulting the Van Loons. Mamie marries Hugh; Bertie marries Alice and when Mr. Van Loon tries to object Pa Lane simply impresses upon him that a .44-caliber gun must be respected. Pa Lane takes the two young couples back home. Bertie gets a good job in Hugh's gold mine and Pa Lane says that no Van Loon or any other fancy-named aristocrat can make a fool out of him that is him and his .44-caliber gun.