Railroad surveyer Murphy goes after rustlers who murdered his father and brother. Along the way, he first arrests then teams up with outlaw Duryea who helps Murphy only to see how long the tenderfoot lasts. Outwitting several attempts on his life engineered by the crooked lawyer who set up his family, Murphy and a wounded Duryea face the gang. Duryea, wanted to protect Murphy and redeem himself, goes down shooting.