John Campbell was once an outlaw but now leads an honest life as a rancher in the Pondera area of Montana. He and his wife Jane live on a ranch that is on government land, but this year he will be given an ownership patent. Sheriff Tom Lane is Campbell’s ally and worries, as does Campbell, that some of Campbell’s former associates may seek him out and cause trouble.

Just such a man is Pearlman, who comes to Pondera believing that Campbell is the head of a gang of bandits and wants to join. Rick O'Dell and Slim Olsen are two range men, strangers to the area, who have come to Pondera for a reason they choose to keep secret.

Campbell decides that the only way to prevent trouble is for all three men to leave the area. When they refuse, Campbell must resort to drastic measures.