Banker John Hamilton is forced to foreclose a mortgage on Sam Elder, a hard drinking, no account rancher who is six months behind on his loan payments. Sam flies into a rage, which brings on a fatal heart attack and leaves his 18-year old son an orphan. Lucas takes pity on the boy and gives him a job as a hired hand. The boy asks Lucas, who reluctantly agrees, to teach him how to handle a rifle. What Lucas doesn't know is the boy has secretly purchased a rifle on his own, and as soon as he learns to use it, plans to exact vengeance on Banker Hamilton, whom he blames for his father's death.