GriffBonnellandhisbrothersWesandChicoarriveinanArizonatown.Heisareformedgunslinger,nowworkingfortheAttorneyGeneral'soffice,lookingtoarrestHowardSwainformailrobbery.
SwainisoneoflandownerJessicaDrummond’s40hiredguns.Sherunstheterritorywithanironfist,permittingthetowntobeterrorizedandtrashedbyherbrother,BrockieDrummond,andhisboys.Brockieisanarrogantdrunkandbully,buthegoestoofarbyshootingMarshalChisolmincoldblood.GriffintervenesandknocksoutBrockiewithhispistol.
WesfallsinlovewithLouvenieSpanger,sohedecidestosettledownandbecomethetown'ssheriff.GriffbecomesromanticallyinvolvedwithJessicaaftersheisdraggedbyahorseduringacyclone.
Twoofherguns,LoganandSavage,attemptanambushofGriffinanalley.HeissavedbyyoungestbrotherChico,whowassupposedtobeleavingforCaliforniaforanewlifeonafarm.Chico'sshotkillsSavage,afterwhichJessica'sbrotherandhiredgunstrytoturnthetownagainsttheBonnellbrothers.
Onhisweddingday,Wesisgunneddown.Brockieisjailedforthemurder.Hetriestoescapebyusinghissisterasashield,daringGrifftoshoot,andisshockedwhenGriffdoesexactlythat.Griff'sexpertlyplacedbulletmerelywoundsJessica,andthecowardlyBrockiethenbecomesthefirstmanGriffhashadtokillin10years.
Chicoremainsbehindtotakethesheriff'sjob.Griffridesout,certainthatJessicahateshimforkillingherbrother,butsherunsafterhisbuckboardandtogethertheyrideoff.