The Girl of the Dance Hall

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In a small western town, Dora Matthews, an orphan, works behind the lunch counter of Hawkin's restaurant. Faro Revere, a gambler, is paying attention to Dora and escorts her home after work. Hawkins gets married and tells Dora that her services will be no longer required as his wife will work in the lunch room. This, of course, leaves Dora without any means of livelihood. Revere pretends to sympathize with her and obtains work for her at the dance hall. Some time passes. Ralph Allen, a mining engineer, coming to the town, sees Dora in the dance hall and becomes interested in her. He finally learns that she is living with Revere. His sympathy is aroused, for he feels that she is living this life from necessity and not from choice. Revere acts brutally toward Dora and occasionally beats her. One night, when passing their cabin, Ralph protects Dora and Revere and learns that she is not married. At this moment the sheriff comes on and arrests Revere for a crime in another county. Ralph, sorry for Dora, gives her money with which to leave town. The same night Revere escapes from the jail and makes his way to the city. Later, Ralph comes back to the city and is met at the train by Wilfred Oliver, his close friend, and taken to his home. Oliver introduces his wife, whom Ralph recognizes as Dora, but he keeps her secret. In the meantime, Revere has found Dora through an accident that occurred at the time of her wedding, and has blackmailed her. Ralph learns this and Oliver, seeing them talking, becomes suspicious. Revere gets in trouble in a low dive and is again obliged to leave town. He sends a note to Dora, telling her to come to a certain spot with money for him. Ralph finds her reading the note and tells her that he will settle matters with Revere. After he has gone, Dora becomes alarmed and follows to the appointed place. At the dive, a struggle takes place between Revere and Ralph, and as Revere is about to shoot him, Red, a crook and an ancient enemy of Revere's, kills him. Dora arrives just as the killing takes place. Ralph hurries her out and home, but they are seen leaving the place by Oliver. The husband, in a jealous rage, follows them home and accuses Ralph of being intimate with his wife. After a scene, Ralph tells Oliver of Dora's past and how he was helping her free herself from Revere's influence. Reconciliation follows.