A notorious outlaw was shot in the back, fatally, before Matt could arrest him. The large bounty on the man's head was never collected. Now a "crusading" newspaper reporter is trying to goad the dead man's two young sons into a showdown with Matt Dillon, who would have been legally enjoined from getting the bounty money because of his lawman status and thus is the main suspect in the shooting.

Fast on the draw, Bob Johnson continues to give into the temptation to use his gun to extract revenge through self defense, even if he crosses the line into murder.