A woman secretly hires Spade Stuart to provoke a duel with John and force him to run in fear rather than fight. Spade has other ideas, as does Yancy.

Criminals threaten the life of John's sister Agatha after he has their leader hanged. Yancy soon regrets offering to help protect the snobbish visitor from Boston, a situation complicated because John insists that Agatha remain ignorant of her peril.