Richard Barthelmess is stunning in this coming of age story as David Kinemon, the youngest son of West Virginia tenant farmers. David is eager to be seen as a man by his family and neighbors, especially pretty Esther Hatburn (Gladys Hulette) who lives with her grandfather on a nearby farm. However the peace of country life is soon shattered when the Hatburn's outlaw cousins show up on the lam. Of particular concern is Luke Hatburn (Ernest Torrence), a sadist and villain who causes no end of suffering to anything or anyone in his way.

The silent film TOL'ABLE DAVID is widely considered one of the finest early U.S. action films. The film is a far cry from the hectic cutting and special effects of the modern blockbuster, but under Henry King's stellar direction it quickly and quietly presents the emotional elements of the form, centering on a young hero, David, who against all odds faces down an evil enemy to win respect and love. David, who idolizes his older brother, sees him struck down by the Hatburns, three criminal fugitives who have taken up residence in David's otherwise bucolic village. When David's father dies shortly thereafter, David must swear off revenge in order to support his widowed mother and younger siblings. David is shamed by his neighbors, who view his filial loyalty as cowardice, and he is unable to attract the desired attentions from his beloved, a Hatburn herself. But working for the U.S. Postal Service, David is soon poised to prove his courage, avenge his family, and win his love's heart.