The Marshal Of Mesa City

In 1880, near Mesa City, Cronin's henchmen ambush Virginia King's stagecoach as she attempts to leave town. Retired lawman Cliff Mason intervenes and foils the assault, keeping Virginia safe. Virginia identifies one of the attackers as Pete Henderson, giving Cliff a target for the investigation. Cliff escorts Virginia back to Mesa City to report the incident.

Cliff reports the ambush to Mayor Cronin's office and explains that pursuing justice against a sheriff who is on Henderson's payroll would be dangerous. The mayor dismisses the idea, arguing that Cronin's influence makes formal justice futile.

Henderson kills the marshal who tries to arrest him, and Cronin's gang helps him escape. Exasperated, the mayor appoints Cliff as the new marshal to restore order in Mesa City.

Cliff arrests and jails the remaining gang members from the ambush. At their trial, the judge on Cronin's payroll reduces the charges to a misdemeanor and orders only a small fine. Cliff is disgusted by the corruption and resigns his badge, planning to leave town.

Virginia persuades Cliff to stay for the town dance that evening, hoping to give the town a chance to heal. Cliff agrees on the condition that he remains Virginia's escort.

During the dance, Cronin menaces Cliff, prompting the mayor to reappoint him as marshal. Cliff then helps the town pass an ordinance banning civilian possession of firearms while officers remain armed.

Cronin sends for notorious gunman Duke Allison to provoke a gunfight, but Cliff refuses to take the bait and even saves Duke from a bar patron's shot. Cronin departs to meet Henderson, intending to lead a posse to kill Cliff.

Outnumbered in the bar, Cliff is aided by Duke, whom he previously saved, and the gang is arrested. Cliff makes Duke a deputy marshal so he can carry a weapon, and Duke tells him where Henderson is hiding.

Cliff arrests Henderson and hands him to Cronin, who is forced to jail him. Cronin tries to arrest Duke as a known killer, but Cliff intervenes and defeats Bat Cardigan in a fistfight.

At another town dance, Cronin releases Henderson to kill Cliff and Duke. Cliff outdraws and kills Henderson as they exit the dance hall.

Jake Morris reports Henderson's murder to Cronin, who then arrests Cliff and Duke for the crime. The mayor vows to involve a U.S. Attorney to investigate Cronin's corruption.

Cronin starts a fire at the jail to destroy evidence and to kill Cliff and Duke. Cliff breaks out with help from the townspeople, and he and Duke fight Cronin and his henchmen in a gunfight that ends with the gang dead and Cronin killed by Duke.

The mayor, Cliff and Virginia pay their respects to Duke at his gravesite. Cliff declares he no longer wants to be a lawman and plans to head south, and Virginia asks to accompany him as they leave together.