The Border Menace

Ranger Bill Williams, known as the "Shadow," poses as a renegade cattle rustler in order to infiltrate the gang of Chuck Adams, an outlaw whose specialty is claim-jumping and whose next victims are to be Bill's old friends, Milette, a rancher, and his daughter Helen. While spying on Adams, Bill learns that the local banker, who goes by the nickname "Chief," is a partner in a scheme to cheat the Milettes out of their oil lands. Chief and Adams decide to try to scare Milette off his land before taking more drastic measures, and Adams suggests initiating a cattle stampede. When Bill tries to come along, however, Adams, suspicious of his new employee, gives him another task and sends two of his henchmen to guard him. Bill manages to overpower his two guards and then enlists the aid of his friend, Polecat Pete, in order to protect the Milettes' cattle. Bill and Polecat fire enough bullets to make Adams think that he's been ambushed by an entire army, and his gang quickly turns back. After returning to the gang's hideaway, Adams, who believes that Chief set him up, confronts Chief with his suspicions. Chief denies being involved and mentions that a rumor is going around that "Shadow" Williams is back on the range. Adams' suspicions are confirmed when one of his flunkies, an ex-con named Dragon Morris, recognizes Bill as the undercover ranger who sent him to jail. Adams, still believing that Chief has betrayed him, makes plans to blow up the local oil derricks in order to get back at both Chief and the Milettes, and prepares to kill Bill. However, when Bill requests one last smoke, he acquieses. Pretending to fumble through his pockets for a match, Bill manages to draw his gun and quickly shoot out the lights, but Adams escapes in the ensuing struggle. After forcing Chief to sign a confession, Bill rushes to save the oil derricks and Helen, who has been abducted by Adams, arriving just in time to stop the explosion. As Milette drags Adams away to face justice, Bill and Helen embrace.