In 1899, in Australia, Alice May Richards is the daughter of the horse breeder James Richards, who is the owner of the ranch Minnamurra. Alice has a crush on the wrangler Jack Donaghueand the wealthy trader Ben Creed has an unrequited love with her. James is in a bad economical situation and his despicable neighbor Allenby wishes to buy his real state, but he does not accept the offer. Meanwhile Donaghue associates to a man called Bill Thompson to convince his neighbors to give money to raise a league of horse breeders of their own. Creed uses his company to secretly help James while Alice is sent to the house of her aunt to learn good manners. Creed decides to investigate Thompson and finds that he is a con man and he warns his neighbors and Donaghue becomes his enemy; however Thompson flees with their money and Donaghue's reputation is ruined. Out of the blue, James dies and Alice returns home and learns the financial condition of her family.
