Lucy Watson, a young schoolteacher, is appointed welfare instructor in a community of isolated backwoods folk. She quickly overcomes their fears, and achieves popularity by the practical results of her work. She is especially successful with a strong, uncouth bee-hunter. Zane Grey's handling of these primitive characters is robust and understanding.
Prior to publication of the book the story had been serialized in 1925 as "The Bee Hunter" in Ladies' Home Journal.