Jan Kruga and his daughter Meta live on a farm in the Transvaal. The nearest neighbor, Sir John Morgan, lives 20 miles away, and it is only on rare intervals that she ever goes even that far away from her isolated home.
Two brothers, of good old New England stock. Love the same maid, but she loves one a great deal more than the other, so when war breaks out Jim decides to go, and is one of the first volunteers.
Josh doesn't like the way things go at home and decides to quit and get out. Later, his wife gets what purports to be his farewell letter, which is intended to lead her to believe he has committed suicide.
George Petit, the son of a bank cashier is a heavy gambler. After losing a significant amount of money at cards, he becomes desperate to recover his losses.