Luke Rivers (Van Dien) has retired as a gunslinger and is now working on an Arizona ranch owned by crusty Thurmond Prescott (Borgnine). The local land owners band together to fight ruthless railroad mogul Howard (Atherton), who uses intimidation and murder to seize their land. Looks like Rivers is going to have to strap on his six-guns and go up against some of his old saddle-mates in order to defend his new life. Title refers to poker's so-called "dead man's hand," held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was killed.