Beautiful Mildred Hucks is in love with young Lyman Webb, but her mother is determined to marry her off to an elderly millionaire. When the Spanish-American War breaks out in 1898, Lyman joins Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders and goes off to fight in Cuba. He writes to Mildred, but her mother intercepts the letters and makes sure Mildred doesn't see them. Her mother's efforts to destroy Mildred's and Lyman's relationship finally pay off--but have far-reaching consequences.