Pursuing Frank James, Charley Siringo, a railway inspector, arrives at the land of the Cartwrights with his men. "What about the Cartwrights?" one of his men asks. "Damn the Cratwrights!" Siringo says and goes on pursuing Frank James into the area. 

Adam wants to marry Anny, a nearby farmer's daughter, but she desperately wants to go to Paris to attend to her piano lessons. The farm is run by Bronc, who has been a friend of their grandfather's and Jacob, another friend of the family. Buckshot, an elderly gentleman, is responsible for the cooking and the running of the house. Benjamin asks Buckshot whether he forgot how it was to be young and in love. Sadly Buckshot leaves and Jacob tells him that he was not aware how dumb his question was. Anny's father comes home the moment Adam is jumping down her balcony. He asks him whether he really loves Anny. As Adam confirms his love for her, Anny's father tells him that, in that case, he should be man enough to let her go to Paris. 

The next day Adam and Joshua are driving cattle to new pastures when Adam sees someone in the forest. But they believe they have been mistaken. Frank James is on the run. Wounded. A deep shot-wound gives him great pain, but he rides on, pursued by Siringo and his gang. Adam and Josh discuss Adam's future. Adam considers to go his own way- leaving the Ponderosa. Josh tells him, he'll be doing his work so that Adam can visit his girl friend. Gladly Adam leaves Josh to see her. While Josh is on his way with a couple of horses, he gets caught by Siringo's men. Having a day off, Adam and Anny enjoy a moment together leaning against a log, and Anny tells Adam about Paris, Frank James arrives. He is too much wounded to ride on, apologizes for the interruption and asks for help. 

Adam helps him to go on and learns that Frank James' charges have been dropped, but Siringo goes on following him. Having been cared for and his wound treated, Frank thanks Adam and wants to ride on. At this moment Siringo and his gang approach directly behind them. "After all these years, Siringo finally got his chance to kill me." Frank says. "Not on the Ponderosa!" Adam responds. He prevents the gang from hanging Frank James by informing them that the railroad badges they wear do not mean a thing on his ground and that they are in fact trespassing. Though they try to scare him, he tricks them and takes over – with the help of Frank James, backing him up. Siringo and his men have to leave their weapons and are told to leave the farm. 

At the farm Buckshot tells them that he has been together with Frank and Bronc in the civil war. Meanwhile Frank and Bronc meet outside, in the farm. Frank tells Bronc that Siringo killed his mother and his nine year old brother. Now Jacob takes out the bullet with a knife heated in the fire. It is tough for him to do that and Frank endures the procedure - hardly showing any sign of the tremendous pain he is suffering. "I hope I did not catch you enjoying that?" Frank asks. "That's the most fun I had had all day." Jacob answers, relieved that it is over. Bronc plans to take Frank to the sheriff's office for his own safety. On their way, Adam and Benjamin find the horses which have been with Josh. Both are ambushed by Siringo's men and brought to their camp. 

Benjamin is a lawyer and tells Siringo about his illegal behavior. Siringo does not care. He says that – if they will not consigne Frank – their brother will be hanged in his place. All the area is covered by Siringo's men blocking the entrances and exits to the valley. In Siringo's tent Josh learns about Siringo's plan: His whole family will be killed – and all will be blamed on Frank James. Jacob tells Benjamin and Adam that Bronc's wife was shot in the back by Siringo as he – long ago- robbed a bank. Now Benjamin knows why his question had been out of place. Bronc trusts Frank with his story. He shares that Siringo has killed his wife, Carina. 

The sheriff and the newspaper reporter are approaching and met by Siringo and his men. The reporter witnesses how the sheriff is shot in cold blood and without having drawn his gun, just because he told Siringo that he has no authority on this property. The dying sheriff is found by the Cartwrights. He knows: The only way out for Siringo is to kill all the family. Then he dies. By now Josh has escaped. Running away, he is shot at by Siringo's men, but hurries through the woods. Exhausted and coming out of a river, Josh looks at a pair of boots ... Frank James' boots. Telling him about his years as an outlaw, Frank shares his food with him, which makes Josh admire the circumstances an outlaw has to live under. They are pursued by Siringo's men. 

Two of the men follow them to a hut and one is blowing it apart with dynamite – thinking he's killed both. When Siringo hears the news, he does not believe it. He feels that Frank James is still alive. All Cartwrights, Jacob, Frank and Buckshot meet at the old building of the Ponderosa, while Sarah and the reporter come to help them. There a shootout begins between the Cartwrightes, Frank James and Siringo's people. A long time of shooting is followed by the realization that nearly all ammunition is used up. Remembering old times, Frank suggest: "Bronc, do you think the same as I do?" and Bronc agrees. Bronc calls out to Siringo and challenges him for a private shootout.