Dr. John Brighton settles in Cherokee Wells after his wife dies giving birth to his daughter. Five years later, big cattleman Cass Dobie is trying to run off the smaller ranchers and makes an enemy of the Doctor. Cass Dobie suspects there is oil on Indian Charlie Smith's property. He sends his brother Mel to take a sample for analysis, but Smith sees him and Mel tries to shoot him. Smith kills him with a knife and Cass Dobie vows revenge. Dr. Brighton has to keep Smith safe from Cass until the inquest.; The drilling of the first oil well by Edwin Drake in Pennsylvania in 18959.; A description of the land rush in Oklahoma in 1889.