William Donovan

Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince in Jerusalem, is betrayed by his childhood friend, Roman tribune Messala, and wrongfully sent to the galley slaves.

Ahmed, son of Diana and Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, falls in love with Yasmin, a dancing girl who fronts her father's gang of mountebanks. She and Ahmed meet secretly until one night when her father and the gang capture the son of the sheik, torture him, and hold him for ransom.

Following the robbery of the Inspiration Gold Mine, Circus Lacey drifts into the border town of Esmeralda, where he saves Ethel Slocum from the unwanted advances of Red Lucas, a notorious gunman. When Ethel later also refuses to submit to the sheriff's demands, the sheriff frames her father for the mine robbery.

Slim Ranthers objects to the development of an irrigation project on his ranch and incurs the enmity of those involved in it. Max Underly, Slim's rival for the affections of Bess Livingston, has Slim unjustly accused of cattle rustling. Since the accusation does not deter Slim, Max and his men ambush him at night, wounding him in the arm. Slim eventually defeats Max and wins the affections of Bess.