Amos Warren, a ranching neighbor of Jack Slater, is eaten up by envy, jealousy, and a lack of ability to run his own ranch. He blames Slater for all his failures and often threatens to burn Slater out.
Warren's foreman, Sonny Belafleur, is an outlaw using the Warren ranch in a cattle rustling operation tied to feedlot owner Blake Wilson. Wilson has found a flaw in Nevada's laws concerning brands and when ownership is transferred and is using that flaw to rustle considerable heads of beef. One rustling attempt brings the operation into focus for Jack Slater and his highly intelligent adopted son, Rob. An inept sheriff begs Slater to end the rustling but continues to get in the way.
Warren's anger and hatred get the best of him and he sends hired gunslingers to burn out the Slater ranch and kill the family. The former Orphan Train boy is driven by love of family and responds with overwhelming ferocity, ending any further threats.