John Stofel, a Dutch shoemaker, and his daughter Lizzie are living in America at the time of the Civil War. Convinced by the offer of a title deed to a farm, he takes the place in the army of a cowardly deacon, but returns wounded and insane. When oil is discovered on the farm, the deacon tries to reclaim the land. Stofel eventually regains his memory, however, and finds the hidden title deed, forcing the deacon to give up his claim.