Outlaw Rule

Rancher Danny Taylor enters a saloon and announces that Blaze Tremaine has rustled more of his cattle, then becomes angry when Sheriff Tom barely reacts to the news. The next day Danny visits the sheriff, and soon after, the sheriff's wife hears a shot and finds Danny standing over her dead husband, holding a gun. Danny is pursued and is thrown by his horse, but continues on foot, holding up Reb Russell for his horse Rebel. However, when Reb whistles, Rebel throws Danny to the ground. Reb sees that Danny is badly wounded and hides him when the posse rides up, giving them false information as to Danny's whereabouts. Reb notices that Danny's gun has not been fired that day, and they decide to hide out at a deserted miner's cabin, where they are met by Danny's girl friend, Kay Lathrop, and Tubby Jones, a cowhand. At the town bank, meanwhile, a committee headed by Lance Peyton meets to decide what to do about Blaze, when suddenly the outlaw enters and robs them. The committee reluctantly agrees to bring in a gunman known as "The Whistler," a U.S. Marshal and Cattlemen's Association detective, and one of the committee members, Bishop, is sent to bring The Whistler to the Lathrop ranch. Reb, meanwhile, goes to the coroner, who must appoint an interim deputy, as when Tom was killed, his deputy, Lindstrom, automatically lost his job. After learning that a little boy was given a dollar by Lindstrom to leave the sheriff alone, Reb decides Lindstrom must have committed the murder, believing he would succeed as the new sheriff. At the Lathrop home, Bishop tries to interfere when The Whistler is ordered by Lathrop to leave, but Reb bests The Whistler in the ensuing fight. Reb then abducts Lindstrom and takes him to the cabin, where he is tied up and blindfolded. By pretending to open a box of rattlesnakes in the room, Reb frightens Lindstrom into confessing that he was working for Blaze, who used Bishop's ranch hands on his raids. The Whistler overhears Tubby tell Kay the news and informs Blaze and Bishop, who ride toward the cabin while The Whistler goes back for Lathrop. When Reb enters the cabin, his quick shooting takes care of Lindstrom and Bishop, and Blaze is killed by Danny. Reb rides to rescue Lathrop and shoots The Whistler, explaining that the man he just killed was not the real Whistler, only a cheap gunman hired by Bishop. Reb reveals himself as the real Whistler and tells Lathrop to give his reward to Kay and Danny as a wedding present. Although Kay and Reb have grown fond of each other, Reb leaves with Rebel, deciding to be a "square shooter."