Jim Mallory returns from the Civil War to Texas to find his father, Colonel Mallory, leading a band of land grabbers and carpet-baggers during the Reconstruction Era. He learns of this from newspaper publisher Jonathan Taylor, who advocates the overthrow of Colonel Mallory's crooked regime, and his daughter Nan. Jim and his pal, "Happy" Snodgrass save Taylor from Mallory's henchmen, led by Idaho, and they side with the Governor's representative Brent Gordon against the gang. When Jim kills one of the gang members, Captain Sneed, the Colonel's main aide, has him jailed and he is to be executed. Colonel Mallory goes to Gordon and Taylor, and they agree to take up arms to free Jim on the condition that the Colonel join their crusade against the lawlessness.