Frederick Kyle arrives in Virginia City purposely seeking out Little Joe Cartwright. Rather than introduce himself formally he saves Little Joe from some card sharks and for this Joe is immediately grateful towards him. Kyle has come from the South to buy precious metals and take them back to the South. He uses Little Joes knowledge of the people in the City to help him gain a foothold into buying gold and silver. Kyle drives a wedge between Joe and Adam to the point where Joe leaves home and Adam leaves the Ponderosa.