Silent-comedy king Buster Keaton plays Alfred, a timid city boy coaxed into an outdoors adventure that his father hopes will make a man out of him. Though Alfred strikes out as a hunter/fisherman, he falls hard for a lovely mountain girl (Sally O'Neil), but to win her over, he has to assume the identity of champion boxer "Battling Butler," a ploy that leaves Alfred with plenty of nicks and bruises.