 George is a young man who is hounded by fear of other people. He moves to the West hoping the experience will toughen him up. Instead, he is mocked and beaten by men in a trail outfit. He loses his job as the trail cook, and leaves in disgrace and humiliation. He finds himself in Northfork, There he meets Lucas and Mark, who help him with encouragement, work, and support against vindictive pursuers from the trail outfit. Lucas helps George, and Mark, learn that there are different kinds of fear. George finds that he is not the coward that he thinks he is.