Jilted and humiliated by the man she had expected to marry, Emma Hartwood now feels that she is a burden at home. In desperation, she starts corresponding with a gold prospector out West named Harry and decides to become a mail order bride.
On the train, she makes friends with another woman who is also a mail order bride, she has a new baby and is hopeful of a new life. However, her husband to be knows nothing of this baby and she believes it will destroy the marriage before it even begins. Suddenly Emma's new friend disappears, leaving Emma with the child.
Emma is forced to have to convince Harry that the baby isn't hers and find the baby's real mother before her life gets way too complicated.