Paladin goes after a man who murdered a man and attacked the man's wife. The victim's two brothers are also after him and don't intend to allow him to live long enough to stand trial.

Wrongly convicted Ed Stacy, whom Paladin helped to put in prison, is being released after being pardoned. Will Stanhope, who runs the local freight office, hires Paladin to protect him from Stacy. Paladin soon wonders who is really in danger.

A young man convicted of murder is scheduled for execution, and Paladin attempts to intervene before it's too late.

Paladin is taking Blandings back to stand trial and stops at a ferry crossing. They are captured and held along with three others. Someone is coming and they are being held until he arrives. Each thinks it's their worst enemy coming to kill them and all they can do is wait.

After being attacked by a puma in the wild, things go from bad to awful for Paladin when he's robbed and left for dead by two men.