Law of the Canyon

As he nears Skeleton Pass with his wagons, Steve Langtry, a dude intent upon establishing a general store in the town of Jackson City, is accosted by a band of thugs, who demand money in exchange for the safe passage of his wagons. When Steve refuses to pay, the outlaws attack, wounding him. After tying up Steve and his driver Ben, the outlaws abscond with the wagons. Nearby, Smiley, an amateur prospector, hears Steve's cries for help and hurries to untie him. Although Smiley recognizes Steve, Steve insists that he is a stranger to the territory. Upon arriving in Jackson City, Steve goes to Dr. Middleton's office to have his wounded hand treated. There, the doctor informs Steve that Sheriff Coleman, the town's law officer, is seriously ill and therefore unable to perform his duties, and offers to ransom Steve's wagons from the outlaws. Soon after, Spike Coleman, the sheriff's young son, who idolizes the masked rider of justice known as The Durango Kid, spots one of the outlaws and chases him out of town. The bandit is about to shoot the boy when The Durango Kid appears and saves his life. When the doctor counsels Steve to pay the $2,000 ransom demanded by the outlaws, Mary Coleman, the sheriff's feisty daughter, challenges him to fight back. Later that night, Fletcher, one of the gang, visits Middlelton, their covert leader, and voices his fear of The Durango Kid. The next day, Middleton asks Smiley to tie his medical bag onto his saddle. Before doing so, however, Smiley empties the drug vials and refills them with water. When Mary learns that Steve is awaiting two replacement wagons, she offers to organize a posse to escort them through the pass and Steve accepts. Overhearing their plan, Middleton orders his thugs to attack the wagons at the bottom of the pass. When the outlaws swoop down, however, The Durango Kid gallops from the hills to rescue the wagons and drive away the gang. Back in Jackson City, the members of the posse sing the praises of The Durango Kid and criticize Steve's absence during the raid. Holding Steve responsible for injuries incurred during the gun battle with the outlaws, the townsfolk decide to jail him. Later that night, Smiley tricks the jailer into opening the door to Steve's cell, allowing him to escape. At Middleton's office, meanwhile, Fletcher tells the doctor that he suspects Steve and The Durango Kid are the same person. When Steve enters the office for treatment of his wounded hand, the doctor injects him with a dose from the water-filled vials. After Steve feigns unconsciousness, Fletcher and Middleton wrap him in a blanket, drape his lifeless body over a horse and ride out of town. Along the trail they encounter Smiley, who notices Steve's boots dangling from under the blanket. In town, meanwhile, Sheriff Coleman, who was being drugged by Middleton, recovers after being dosed with Smiley's water. When Middleton returns to town after leaving Steve at the gang's hideout, the sheriff realizes that the doctor has been sedating him and orders his apprehension. Instructing Spike to ride for reinforcements, Smiley follows Middleton back to his hideout. As The Durango Kid battles the gang at their hideout, the posse arrives. After turning the gang over to Smiley and the others, The Durango Kid rides in pursuit of Middleton, who has escaped. Losing his balance, Middleton tumbles over a cliff to his death. Back in town, Smiley reveals that Steve is a government agent on secret assignment. His mission accomplished, Steve, who dons the disguise of The Durango Kid to bring law and order to the West, says goodbye and rides off into the sunset.