An old miner, Boise Peabody, is diagnosed for death, and decides to make a mark for himself by challenging the mine camp bully to a shootout. Boise wins but asks Paladin to protect him when the dead man's brother comes looking for revenge.

A craniologist, Dr. Leopold Avatar, hires Paladin to take him to a legendary gunman who has killed thirty men in self-defense. Paladin soon discovers that Avatar will do anything to prove his theories.