The Gun Ranger

After arresting Wally Smeed for the murder of prominent ranch owner Tom Pearson, Ranger Dan Larsen is disgusted when crooked state attorney Kemper Mills and defense attorney Burke conspire to get the case thrown out of court on a technicality. Dan quits the rangers and tells the judge he intends to become his own judge, jury and executioner. Dan then talks with his sweetheart, Pearson's daughter Molly, who is now a ward of the court. Molly tells Dan that the judge is planning to appoint Mills as her guardian and asks Dan to leave before he gets hurt. Dan refuses to leave and instead tracks down Bud Cooper, the stranger who aided Mills in his scheme to free Wally. Dan fights with Cooper, who works for the mysterious Circle T outfit, which is owned by an anonymous man, then escapes with the help of his friend, Carl Beeman, when Cooper's gang chases him. The next day, Dan is searching for the Circle T ranch when he finds Cooper and makes him reveal that Burke hired him. Dan then tricks Cooper into leading him to the shack where Wally is hiding out. He overhears a conversation in which a masked man tells Wally that tomorrow, when Mills becomes Molly's guardian, he will be able to legally sign over all the Pearson cattle to the gang. Dan is caught by Cooper and another man, and Wally insists on being allowed to kill him. After the others leave, Wally frees Dan and tells him that he knows the identity of Pearson's murderer and is going to apprehend him himself. Dan believes in Wally's innocence and goes to warn Molly and the judge that Mills is setting up the guardianship in order to steal the Pearson ranch. Mills and one of the sheriffs arrive and capture Dan, after which the judge becomes suspicious and delays the signing of the guardianship papers. The judge leaves, but is shot by the masked man, whom he recognizes as Mills. Wally, who has been following them, tries to help the judge. After Dan escapes from the sheriff and finds Wally, Wally tells him that he is actually the judge's son, but as the black sheep of the family, was forced to hide his identity. Wally states that Mills shot both his father and Pearson, and that Mills wants the Pearson ranch in order to have a clear route to the border, where he can sell stolen cattle. Just then, Cooper and his gang raid the Pearson ranch while Mills kidnaps Molly. Dan and Wally rescue Molly, but Wally is fatally wounded by Mills, after which Cooper's men surround the hideout and attempt to drive them out. Just before he dies, Wally shoots Mills, thereby saving Dan's life, and Dan shoots Cooper. Carl arrives with reinforcements, and Dan reveals to Molly that he never actually quit the rangers.