A desperate mayor hires Paladin to collect taxes from the local ranchers. Paladin convinces the biggest rancher to help him collect taxes from the smaller spreads, but one alleged rustler is less than cooperative.

Paladin helps an old friend, now a sheriff, bring in two boys found guilty of murder. Both are underage, and Paladin has his doubts about seeing them hang. Meanwhile, the brother of the murdered man plans to dispense his own justice.