Serialized adventures of fur trappers in the Pacific Northwest, as they fight Indians, the elements and each other.
When sawmill owner Helen Cole is kidnapped by bandits, it falls on lumberjack Dan Stevens to rescue her, but "Wirenail" Hedges is not willing to give up without a fight. Originally a fifteen-episode serial, all that is known to survive of "Smashing Barriers" today is this single reel abridgment created for the home movie market in 1932.
American heiress Bettina Vanderpoel departs for England to visit her sister Rosalie and her impoverished nobleman husband Sir Nigel Anstruthers. Arriving at their dilapidated estate, Betty finds that Nigel not only has wasted Rosalie's fortune but has treated his wife and their little son cruelly. Betty jumps into action promptly repairing the estate with her own money and seeking to offer some relief to her sister by introducing her into English society. In the process, she meets Lord Mount Dunstan, a proud but penniless nobleman who lives in the adjacent estate. Strongly attracted to Betty, he nonetheless avoids her so as not to appear a fortune hunter. When an epidemic breaks out among the farmers it leads to life changing consequences for both sisters and the men in their sphere.
Priscilla Worth, an innocent country girl, goes to the city to visit her aunt, who has sent for her, thinking that her childlike simplicity will afford a welcome relief to Vincent Morgan, a wealthy bachelor and man-about-town. The plan works, but soon after Vincent and Priscilla's marriage, Vincent, besieged by his friends to return to his gay life and suspicious of his wife's relationship with Durant--an artist who has painted her portrait--yields to temptation.
Dorinda, a mountain girl, left alone by the death of her parents, is adopted by distant relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Greer. Mrs. Greer is not overjoyed by this addition to their family, because all her mother-love and affection is given to their only son, Harvey, just finishing a term at college.
Billy Quill, a bashful bookkeeper, loves Marjorie Keyes, the pretty stenographer. Anatole, the French barber, is also in love with Marjorie, but he is not at all bashful and makes himself a pest by declaring his love for her at every opportunity. Marjorie reciprocates Billy's love, and gives him every opportunity to express his feelings and "pop" the question, but Billy lacks nerve to say the fatal words.