Sundown Saunders

When, in a horse race, Jim "Sundown" Saunders wins the deed to a 640 acre ranch in the Panamint district, he and his friend Smokey quit their jobs as ranch hands and leave for Panamint. En route, they meet Bess Preston and her father who have just purchased a ranch in Panamint from crooked government land locator Ben Taggart. Preston hires Smokey to help him herd his sheep to Panamint and Sundown goes to town. Meanwhile, Taggart makes the acquaintance of a man named Mace, who has come to town to plan a heist with the bank robber Burke. In a barroom, Sundown accidentally pushes a man into Mace, who fights Sundown and is kicked. Sundown makes $1,900 at roulette, and when he leaves the saloon, Mace follows him to finish their fight. Sundown licks Mace, who admits he deserved it. As Sundown rides off, Taggart shoots Mace in the back and steals his wallet. Mace is found unconscious and placed in the hospital, and Sundown is blamed for the shooting. The sheriff distributes "Wanted" posters bearing Sundown's picture. Mace then revives and, in his last words, tells the sheriff Sundown couldn't have shot him and that the only person who knew about his money was Taggart. Meanwhile, the Prestons pay Taggart and settle in at the old Winton Ranch. When Sundown arrives, he discovers that the Prestons have bought the deed to his property. While out on the range, Taggart shoots Preston, grazing his skull, and steals his wallet. Smokey and Sundown get Preston to town without Bess knowing he's wounded and while they are away, Taggart shows Bess Sundown's "Wanted" poster and tells her he killed Preston. In town, Taggart plans a bank heist with Burke. When Preston tells the sheriff that Taggart shot him, the sheriff explains that Taggart is a renegade from government service. The sheriff orders the doctor to spread the word that Preston has died, then he and Sundown investigate Taggart's room above the saloon and overhear Taggart and Burke discussing the next day's robbery and Taggart's plans to marry Bess. Because Taggart knows Bess will now be alone at the ranch, the sheriff deduces he shot Preston. As the sheriff and Sundown descend the saloon roof from Taggart's room, Ben, an old cowboy, says he saw Taggart come down the same way the night Mace was shot. Sundown tells Bess her father has had a bad fall and after spending the evening with her in front of the fire, leaves. The next day, the sheriff's posse meets the robbers at Mushroom rock and they exchange gunfire. Sundown chases Taggart, who goes to Winton Ranch, where he tells Bess that Sundown is wanted for the murder of her father and then abducts her. The sheriff and Preston join Sundown in a chase after Taggart's wagon. A moment before it falls over a precipice, Bess and Taggart jump off. Preston embraces Bess and Sundown knocks out Taggart. The sheriff then retrieves Mace's and Preston's wallets and arrests Taggart. Sundown explains to the Prestons that their ranch belongs to him, but, after whispering in Bess's ear, offers to keep it in the family.