When ranch owner Jim Bowen is murdered by an unseen gunman, Tom Cameron, also known as "The Lone Rider," is suspected of the killing because his horse was seen galloping away from the scene of the crime. While a posse is formed to find Tom, Bowen's will is read. Much to the surprise of his foreman, Clyde Barton, Bowen's property is bequeathed to Bowen's niece Georgia. Despite attempts by lawyer Case Murdock to convince Georgia to sell Bowen's JB Ranch, she insists on keeping it and journeys from her home in Chicago to take control of it. Soon after arriving at the JB Ranch, Georgia finds Tom in the kitchen taking shelter from a storm. She is unaware of his identity until Loco, a slow-witted stablehand, enters the house and gives Tom away. Clyde pulls a gun on Tom as he tries to escape but Tom quickly overpowers him and flees. Although she is beginning to fear for her safety, Georgia becomes interested in Tom's fate when she senses that Loco is hiding information that might clear his name. At the same time, Tom begins searching for the man who rode his horse on the day of Bowen's murder. After instructing his pal Fuzzy to watch over Georgia, Tom goes to Wagonwheel Gap, where he becomes embroiled in a fistfight to protect the honor of a young barmaid named Midge, who is the daughter of nototrious outlaw Matt Malone. Meanwhile, at the JB Ranch, Clyde discovers Fuzzy attempting to approach Georgia and tries to run him off the land. Georgia, now believing more than ever that Tom is innocent, welcomes Fuzzy into the house. Following a bar fight at Wagonwheel Gap, Tom sets out to rustle Georgia's horses to create a diversion so that he can have a private conversation with her. When he arrives at the JB Ranch, however, Tom stumbles upon Malone, who is in the process of kidnapping Georgia and taking her to Wagonwheel Gap. Malone does not know that Tom realizes Georgia is being taken against her will, and this allows Tom to a leave clue for Fuzzy to let him know where he can find them. After learning from Loco that Murdock is the murderer, Tom sets off an explosion in the saloon and sends Midge and Georgia to the back room for safety. In the ensuing gun battle, Midge is shot and killed. The situation looks bad for Tom and Georgia until Fuzzy arrives with reinforcements and saves them. With Murdock arrested, Georgia is now free to run her ranch without harm from the gang.