A Lawman Is Born

Tom Mitchell helps Beth Graham chase rustlers off her father's ranch, then listens to Graham voice his concern that the larger ranchers are trying to intimidate the smaller ones into leaving. Tom, who works in Elias Root's general store, is suspicious of cattle buyer Kane Briscoe and small rancher Bert Moscrip, but keeps his opinions to himself. After Tom returns to town, Sheriff Rock Lance confronts him and reveals that he has just discovered that Tom is wanted for murder. Rock is friends with Tom and tells him that he can stay if he promises never to kill again. Tom insists that the only law is gun law, and so Rock regretfully orders him to leave town. Later that afternoon, Rock is shot by an unknown assailant, and both factions of the range war accuse each other of committing the murder. A week passes, and Tom asks Graham if he still needs a hired gun. Graham refuses, saying that the other small ranchers distrust Tom because of a recent fight between him and Bert. Tom states that he will work for Ike Manton, the county chairman and leader of the big ranchers, which angers Beth and Graham. When he returns to town, however, Tom is persuaded by Rock's sister Martha to run for sheriff against Briscoe's stooge, Lefty Drogan. Tom is elected by an overwhelming majority, and the town citizens eagerly look forward to him cleaning up the town. His actions are hampered though, when Beth makes him promise to kill only in self-defense. Tom struggles to keep the peace as the range war heats up and grows increasingly suspicious of Bert and Briscoe. One day, Sam Brownlee, an under-sheriff from Texas, arrives and informs Briscoe of Tom's past. Briscoe forces Tom to appoint Sam his deputy and intends to kill Tom and replace him with Sam as soon as possible. Drogan and Bert lay in wait for Tom, but Tom springs the ambush and arrests Bert. Drogan lets it be known that he is gunning for Tom, and Martha pleads with Beth to release Tom from his promise so that he can strike at Drogan first. Beth does so, and Tom outdraws Drogan in a duel. Briscoe accuses Tom of being an outlaw, and Sam tells the townsfolk the story of another town, where a corrupt man hired two killers to get rid of the small ranchers. One of those ranchers killed the gunmen "fair and square," but the powerful man was able to get the rancher accused of murder. Sam reveals that Tom is that rancher and that he has been cleared of the charges. He then says he has proof that Briscoe, in an attempt to control all the land, instigated the fight between the ranchers, and was aided by Bert, who killed Rock. Sam arrests Briscoe, after which Tom and Beth make up.