New Mexico marshal Clay Morgan (Montgomery) is nicknamed "Black Patch" because he lost an eye in the Civil War. When his old friend Hank Danner (Gordon) arrives in town, so does trouble, since Danner is married to Morgan's ex-love Helen (Brewster). Danner is also accused of bank robbery so Morgan tosses him in jail and he winds up dead after an escape. Now would-be gunslinger Carl (Pittman) thinks he should avenge his friend Danner's death.