In the village grocery store the usual rustic characters are assembled when the city drummer appears. The village "cut up" is present, too, and the city drummer wins all of the former's money in a game of craps. Colonel Steele enters and rebukes the drummer for teaching the boy the game of craps. The drummer scoffs at him and tells him that he knows nothing about the games of chance, and pulling out a deck of cards, offers them to him and asks him if he knows what they are. The Colonel tells them that, at one time, there was no man in the country who knew more about cards than he did. In response to tell his experiences, the old man begins to relate the story of his life. Many years ago he was known as one of the coolest card players and the deadliest shot among the rough element that usually hangs around a mining camp. His old friend, Bill, had died and left his two children, Tom and Mary, his interest in a big mine. Thad Gray and Jim Blake, gamblers, plan to secure the mine. Thad accordingly plays up to the girl, while his partner works on her brother. Mary becomes infatuated with the dashing ways of Gray and before long they are engaged to be married. Jim succeeds in winning Tom to a life of drunkenness and gambling and in a game one night wins the boy's property by dishonest methods. Colonel Steele tries in every day to save the children's inheritance for them, but they refuse to take his advice. At last the Colonel sees that he will have to beat the gamblers at their own game and challenges Blake to a game. He beats the gambler at his own game, wins back the boy's fortune and cleans the gambler out. Thad and his partner, believing that their plans will be frustrated, decide to make a desperate move. Tom is bound and hid away, while Thad abducts the girl. In their intimate association, Steele has begun to love the girl dearly, but he keeps his secret. Blake plants a dynamite cartridge under Steele's house and hides nearby to see the successful end of his work. Steele, however, sees the fuse burning, casts the cartridge to one side, which is the place where Blake is hiding, and when the explosion takes place Blake is blown to atoms. Steele is told of the abduction and starts out in pursuit. He finally comes upon them just as Thad is forcing his attentions upon the girl. Steele arrives in the nick of time and although he gives him every opportunity to fight. Thad, being cowardly, will not take advantage of this, but slyly tries to kill Steele from ambush. Steele, however, is too quick for him. The girl persuades Steele not to kill him, as she realizes her love for him. The two marry and go east to live a happy life. As the story ends, the drummer tries in every way possible to show his admiration for such a brave man. His faith is rudely shaken, however after Steele leaves and the storekeeper tells him that Steele is the biggest liar in the country and his never been outside of his own county. As the drummer leaves, Colonel Steele is seen at the rear of the store interested in a dime novel.