Jonathan, a prospector, strikes gold after years of searching, but returns to find his partner has died, leaving Tommy fatherless. He leaves his loyal dog Shep, played by Lassie, with Tommy to lift his spirits. However, his new partner Lin is only interested in the gold and plots to kill Jonathan. When Lin poisons Lassie, the dog barely survives and sets out to confront Lin, ultimately leading to a dramatic showdown where Lin's gun jams after an accident with liquid nitrogen.

The Painted Hills
A young boy's life hangs in the balance as a small town is ravaged by gold fever, but a resourceful and devoted dog comes to his aid, saving him from the clutches of chaos and avarice.