At a remote army fort in the desert, Alice Corbett--a widow with a small daughter--makes money by doing laundry and cooking for the soldiers. Sgt. Barnes, a scout at the post, gradually falls in love with her. One night at a party for the commanding officer, Col. Sears, Barnes sees Dr. Deschamps, the post physician, making a pass at Mrs. Sears. The next day he spots the two riding together, and later confronts Deschamps, demanding that he resign his commission or be exposed for his attempt to seduce the colonel`s wife. Deshamps has no intention of resigning, and together with half-breed Unitah, who hates Barnes for beating him in a fight, comes up with a plan to get rid of Barnes without the crime being traced back to him.
