Toby was born in a jail, raised in an orphanage, and worked for a farmer who became his mentor. When the farmer died, he took a 'shortcut' to the goldfields through the mountains. Hopelessly lost, he came across an Indian boy trapped on a cliff face with a broken leg. He rescued the boy who took him to his tribe where Toby met Quinita. Toby is fey and his gift shows him Quinita's true nature which he finds beautiful. They gradually fell in love which caused young men in the tribe to demand his expulsion. Toby eventually found the goldfields but despite some success only wanted Quinita. He returned to the tribe and won acceptance.