Jim Morton is a successful but lonesome rancher. One day, crossing the desert, he rescues an old Indian from the attack of a rattle snake. The Indian rewards his generosity by remaining to assist in the work about the ranch. Later Jim solves his problem by securing a partner, Wilbur Merrill, who arrives with his daughter, Martha. Martha is exceedingly industrious about the home and provides a continual round of gaiety which soon affects the rancher to a point that far exceeds friendship. His constant attempts to speak to her find him tongue-tied and embarrassed. Martha, with a woman’s quick intuition, understanding his plight and lightheartedly, unthinkingly teases him in many ways. Burton, an actor, who has established a hunting lodge nearby, spies Martha at a broncho busting contest. He makes ungentlemanly advances which she coolly repulses. Later he follows her to the Morton-Merrill ranch and finds her digging earth for some plants. Being adroit, he succeeds in gaining her confidence and helps her with her work. Jim is surprised to discover them as Burton is leaving, but a thoroughly natural explanation by Martha causes the matter to pass from his mind. On this day her father is killed while traveling through the woods by a bolt of lightning. In a day or two the sadness has been overcome, to a certain extent, and Jim makes up his mind that now or never is the time to declare himself to Martha. He loses courage and leaves a note on the table, asking her answer. She has gone to Burton’s lodge—innocently because Burton has held up to her the lure of a position as an operatic singer. When she is about to leave, he makes improper advances, which are smartly punished by Martha’s stinging whip. She starts for home. Burton fears that Martha will tell Jim and he enters the Morton house hoping to forestall her. He finds Jim’s note, asking Martha to marry him, and writes the word “No” at the bottom of the sheet. Jim finds the note and is greatly disheartened. Burton disguises himself as a professor of music and by promises of employment at a fabulous salary, succeeds in getting Martha to leave for New York. Martha’s efforts to secure work in New York are hopeless. Then Burton, who has been watching her, meets her as if by accident, and offers his help. Later, disguised as a professor of music, he lures her to his apartment. Removing his disguise as she is playing he asserts that he is going to revenge the sharp, stinging blows given by her whip across his face some time before. Jim has been superintending the dynamiting of stumps on his land and, being careless, has been seriously injured. A visiting doctor, spending his vacation at Jim’s home, brings him East for special treatment and it so happens that the doctor’s quarters are located in the same building where Burton has his apartment—in fact, the apartment is directly across the hall. It is after the doctor has gone out, leaving Jim sitting with bandaged eyes, that the ranchman hears the struggle in Burton’s apartment. He rescues Martha and administers a sound thrashing to Burton. The arrival of the doctor finds that a complete understanding has been reached between Martha and Jim. Burton is left to brood over his sorry failure. Jim and Martha prepare for a new life of happiness on Jim’s big ranch. — Moving Picture World, February 19, 1916, p. 1189.
“Recently when a big rodeo was held at the famous El Capitan ranch near Santa Barbara, Mr. Chatterton seized this opportunity to photograph one of the scenes in “When the Lights Came,” a Western play in which he appears with Anna Little and Jack Richardson.” - Motion Picture News, February 26, 1916, p. 1137