Rancher Jim Drummond refuses to sell his ranch to a land agent named Greely. The latter with Monk and Blackie, henchmen of the railroad purchasing agent, Rankin, frame Jim for the murder of rancher Williams and Jim is arrested and sent to Blue Mesa for trial. On the way, the stage he is riding in with a deputy sheriff is attacked by Rankin`s men. The sheriff and a young gunman named Curly Yantis are killed, and Jim drives the stage into Blue Mesa and poses as Curly Yantis, explaining that Jim Drummond was killed. Jim`s ranch hands Smokey and Whopper ride into town and Jim tells them what has transpired. The ranchers have formed a protective association, with Roy Tremaine as the head. Jim, Whopper and Smokey help Tremaine raise enough money to pay off a mortgage and save his ranch. Jim begins to fall for Tremaine`s pretty daughter Alice.