In 1873, after Marshal Swain of Honcho, Texas is murdered, the town council contacts famous gunfighters, including Wild Bill Hickok, Bat Masterson and the Earp brothers, but all refuse to take the job as his replacement. Saloon owner Yubo, a half-breed whose henchmen killed Swain, plans to put his own man in as marshal. Yubo hopes to run the town completely in ten years, so that he will not be "just another half-breed." The town's leading citizens, however, want Honcho, formerly just a crossroads, to grow into a safe place for "decent" people to live. Jim Crayle, son of one of the famous gunfighters who refused to come, rides to town and applies for the job. After he impresses the council with his marksmanship, he is given the badge. In Yubo's saloon, Yubo's mistress, Kate Durand, humiliates Jim by first kissing him, and then taking his gun. Jim bests Yubo's henchmen, Vince and Tanner, in a fight as the townsfolk watch, and after warning Yubo that he will throw out of town the next man who jumps him, he dumps Kate into a horse trough. Hotel owner Andrew Barton, impressed with Jim, invites him to supper at his large house on the hill up the main street. At the house, Barton's haughty daughter Peg tries to humiliate Jim, and during the meal, Jim drops a soup bowl. He apologizes to Peg, saying he is just a saddle tramp who has never had a home. She kisses him, but he rebukes her and says she is acting like a dance hall girl and that kissing has to be done with feeling. Jim's father Simon rides into town and rebukes his son for not facing up to the fact that he has an injured wrist and cannot draw fast enough to be a marshal. Jim blames his father for the accident that left him injured and for the fact that the only thing he has ever wanted to be is a lawman. Their argument is interrupted by a fight that begins after a cowhand charges that the cards used in Yubo's saloon are marked. When Yubo threatens to draw on Jim if he looks at the cards, Jim shoves a table against Yubo to pin him to the wall. He finds that the deck is marked and gives Yubo until Monday morning to get out of town. Jim convenes a town council meeting and asks for twelve deputies, saying that Yubo will back down if they stand up to him, or take over the town if they don't. Jim succeeds in getting only three men, including Barton, to stand with him. Simon, suspecting that Peg is falling in love with Jim, tells her about the accident so she will intervene. Simon tells Jim that Peg cares for him and encourages him to listen to her. At the Barton house, Jim discourages Peg's younger brother Virgil when he says he wants to be his deputy by showing him up in a draw. Peg appreciates that, and when he says he will be nothing if he does not try to go against Yubo, she admits she loves him and cries. She tells him, though, that she does not want to change or weaken him, and they kiss. A shot through the window grazes Peg's shoulder. Jim then tricks Vince, who fired the shot, and shoots him. Jim next sets fire to a haystack where Tanner lies in wait, forcing him out, then kills him. Simon advises Jim to arrest Yubo and then ride him until he goes for his gun, so that Jim could shoot him. Jim refuses the advice, though. When Cash Skelton, a drunk Yubo keeps in the saloon for amusement, tries to talk Kate into leaving town with him, Yubo overhears and beats Cash savagely. Insulted by Yubo, Kate tells Simon Yubo's plan to take over by luring Jim out of town. Simon finds Yubo on the road outside of town, but Yubo kills him and takes his gunbelt. At the church, as the reverend remonstrates his congregation, saying they must stand behind Jim, Yubo yells from outside for Jim to come out. Calling the townspeople cowards, Peg says Jim should not get himself killed for them. Only Barton, Virgil and the reverend accompany Jim to meet Yubo and his men. After they leave the church, however, the townsfolk decide to back them up, but Jim tells them to stay back. Yubo throws Jim Simon's belt "as a going away present," and they have a showdown. Yubo shoots Jim in the shoulder, and Jim shoots a bullet into Yubo's forehead. Jim sends the gang off, and the townspeople take Jim into the church.