Don Diego is a large ranch owner, the uncle of Dolores and the guardian of a young American, Steve Randall. Steve has just delivered a large herd of cattle to the ranch, where Don Diego has just found out that he must pay the local tax commissioner, Harkness, a fine for unpaid taxes on a herd of over one thousand cattle. Steve offers to drive the cattle to the commissioner's office, even though he feels the fine is unjust. Arriving at the office, Steve learns that Harkness (whom he has never met), who has a reputation for dishonesty, is out. Dropping by the cantina, Steve gets into a fight with Harkness, and Harkness swears vengeance on Steve, especially after Steve stampedes the cattle through the town.