Tex Reevers, a young trailhand, loses his job for spending more time romancing Ruth Tobin, the rancher's daughter, than punching cows. Tex heads for California and, months later, meets up with the Tobin clan, which is headed west to do some prospecting. Fearing for their safety, Tex rides on ahead and is captured by Chili Burns, an old enemy, who ties him up in close proximity to a killer horse. Tex frees himself from his bonds, tames the horse, and saves the Tobin family from Burns and his cutthroat cohorts. The killer horse kills Burns, and Tex continues west with the Tobins.