Colonel Warren, on his way to take up a position as commander of a Western fort, meets Mabel Kerns, who is also going to the same place to visit a friend. The two fall in love. Colonel Warren has contracted the opium habit while on foreign duty in China. He tries to break it, but seems unable to do so. His orderly does everything possible to help him. Just previous to Colonel Warren's advent some miners have taken up a mining claim which they are working illegally. The Indians demand this claim which rightfully belongs to them. The miners continue with their work and store the gold in the powder magazine at the fort. Mabel discovers that the colonel is an opium fiend and declares the ultimatum that he must either give up the habit or her. He tries very hard to give up the habit, but one day he gives way and during his dream thinks that the Indians attack and kill the miners. The troops are sent out from the fort and the Indians, learning of this, attack the fort from another direction. Just at the point of capturing the fort, the colonel rushes out, shows the white flag and makes the agreement with the Indians that he will give them the gold in the magazine and guarantee their rights to the mines if they allow the people in the fort to escape, he remaining as hostage. While showing them the bags of gold in the magazine, he touches a match to one of the powder cans, killing the Indians and himself, for he feels that he is not strong enough to overcome the habit. At this point he awakens. The dream has been so realistic that he takes the opium outfit and burns it up. Mabel and Shorty are overjoyed at this move.