The Durango Valley is being pillaged by a mysterious bandit known only as "The Shadow." Keene Cordner, over the protests of ranch foreman Tanner gets a job on John McKay's ranch. The sheriff, investigating a killing, comes to the ranch and arrests Keen based on the eye-witness testimony of a deputy. Tanner helps him escape and hides him out in a cabin. Keene bitterly declares that since the Sheriff has unjustly made him an outlaw, he will become one with the idea of running down the real Shadow.