Robert McKim, who was a popular villain in silent films, has a more subtle and complex badguy to play in this adaptation of William Allen White's novel. Through his slick wheeling and dealing, John Barclay (McKim) brings Bob Hendricks (Carl Gantvoort), his father (Harry Lorraine), and Colonel Martin Culpepper (Joseph J. Dowling) to the brink of financial disaster. To cover up his deeds, he convinces Bob's sweetheart -- and Culpepper's daughter -- Molly (Claire Adams) that she can fix things by marrying wealthy newcomer Adrian Brownell (Jean Hersholt). The years pass and Molly remains in love with Bob, although she stays faithful to her husband. But Brownell becomes jealous and shoots Bob, wounding him. Barclay, meanwhile, has continued his crooked ways. Because of one of his schemes, the town's water supply is tainted and his own wife dies of typhoid. This finally brings him around and he makes restitution to those he cheated. Brownell dies and Bob and Molly are now able to wed. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi