Calhoun, a planter, lives with his son and daughter, James and Martha. He strongly objects to young Gordon, who has been paying court to Martha and who has the reputation of being a gambler. Calhoun forbids Gordon from entering the house. One day as Gordon is traveling up the river he sees Calhoun who is returning from the sale of his cotton crop and is counting his money on the deck. Meredith, an unscrupulous gambler, also notices Calhoun and determines to relieve him of his money.