U.S. Marshall Mackenzie "Mac" Bovard (Robert Taylor) has a penchant for catching outlaws and delivering his own brand of justice, hence his nickname "The Hangman". When a fellow marshall is killed while trying to prevent a bank robbery, Bovard takes it upon himself to catch the men and make them pay. He succeeds in the capture of three of the men but the fourth, Johnny Bishop (Jack Lord) proves an unlikely adversary. Bishop has taken sanctuary in a small town and with the help of the locals, including the sheriff; he refuses to be captured without a fight.