Outlaw Jim Lanning, known as "The Hell's River Kid", quits the gang of Ed Farrell. Planning to rob a stagecoach, he finds that Lanning's gang has beaten him to it but the coach horses bolt away before the job is completed. He and his horse Silver catch the coach and, as he is about to remove the strongbox, he sees passenger Mary Stevens, who thinks he is trying to rescue her. Loading the strongbox back onto the coach, he drives it to Gold City where he is thanked by Mary's father, Judge Stevens. Thinking him a hero, the town citizens, led by Corwin make him head of the Vigilance Committee to uphold the law and fight the bandits robbing the Gold City shipments. Jim, having fallen in love with Mary, decides to go straight and accept the honor. Judge Stevens, unknown to Jim, Mary or the citizens, knows his outlaw past, but keeps quiet, figuring Jim will be able to reform.Lanning's gang comes to town, captures Jim and frames him for the theft of a large gold shipment from the express office. His past then comes out and the innocent Jim has to leave town in a hurry. He goes after the Lanning gang.