gary o'hara, a confederate lieutenant, returns from the war, to fight one at home. prior to his release from the prisoner of war camp his pistol has its barrel sawn off, as well as his brother phil's gun and all the pistols from lieutenants of the south. he arrives at his house and finds his wife living in poverty. he promises to reunite with her after three months and travels to yellowstone to make a living. there, he meets the wealthy landowner and banker mccoy, who hires gary and asks him to arrest a new gangster in town named "black jack", who has supposedly wrought havoc in the community.