The Virginian is on a trip to the southwest to collect a judgment for $4000 from Gordon W. Madden for a bad check he gave Shiloh for cattle. Gordon is the spoiled son of a rich rancher who makes good the debt. While in the local saloon The Virginian runs into Savannah who he knew from seven years earlier. They renew what had been a very close relationship that evening. However, the next morning as The Virginian is about to leave town, he learns she has been charged with murdering Gordon in her room. The Virginian is unable to find her a lawyer so he asks Judge Garth to represent her. However, they find that Gordon's father controls the court and Savannah is not only found guilty and sentenced to hang but the date of the hanging is moved up to prevent a retrial Judge Garth is expecting under appeal. The Virginian is forced to break Savannah out of jail to stall the hanging but even that action may not be enough.
—Anonymous