As Silver City prepares for the first hanging by the new hydraulic gallows system, Stone begins to doubt the guilt of the young man sentenced to death. Using a new technique called ballistics, Finch re-examines the evidence, while Stone encounters anger over the re-opening of the case.

Two oilmen bring the promise of progress to Silver City, but when Stone and Finch investigate the murder of the Mayor's brother-in-law, they find out how far some people will go for big bucks.