Jed snarled and went for his gun. The cowpoke across the table went for his. The stranger drew and fired at the adversary across from him; he spun and fell, his six shooter never even clearing leather. Then the stranger swung the barrel of his Colt strongly to the right, to the left side of the Jed's face. He grunted and fell back." Wherever Mason went, trouble seemed to follow. Maybe the sheriff was right, he was nothing but a drunk and he should just keep moving. But Mason was also a lawyer, and his first case was to defend a rancher accused of rustling. And all the evidence pointed to the...

When John Hobart, and old friend of Constance Sweeny's, is introduced to Roland Mason, Attorney at Law, Mason takes an instant dislike to the man. Is it something about him, or does Mason see him as a rival for the affections of the widow Sweeny? Mason himself may not be sure, but events lead him to defend Hobart on the charge of attempted murder. The whole affair becomes more than just a trial, as the lives of Hobart and Mason are put in jeopardy, as well as the life of Constance Sweeny herself.