 Utilizing a plot that Columbia had used twice before with Buck Jones and again with Charles Starrett, this version shifts the state of the Rangers from Texas to Arizona, where Ranger Rod Saunders (Stanley Brown) is killed by a band of outlaws and his brother Ranger Lucky Saunders (Russell Hayden)swears to avenge his death. The outlaws, led secretly by town businessman Anse Rankin (Tristram Coffin), have been terrorizing the town and the citizens. Rankin accuses the Rangers of being unable to cope with the situation and organizes a Vigilante Defense League, with himself as the head and with the intent of forcing the ranchers to pay tribute for protection against his own gang. Lucky, working with Captain Randall (Jack Rockwell), resigns in disgrace from the Rangers and pretends to go over to the side of the outlaws.