Kal McCloud, a road agent and gunman, has a habit of holding up the Dragon stage. He is well known in Black Mesa and makes his headquarters at the Gulch saloon. Sims, the sheriff, has suspicions that he is the bandit, but so far has been ...See moreKal McCloud, a road agent and gunman, has a habit of holding up the Dragon stage. He is well known in Black Mesa and makes his headquarters at the Gulch saloon. Sims, the sheriff, has suspicions that he is the bandit, but so far has been unable to prove his theory. In the same place lives "Four-Ace Baker," known as one of the whitest and squarest of gamblers. The Rev. James Thorpe and his daughter, Nan, arrive. On the way the stage was held up, but the bandit was masked and no one recognized him. Thorpe comes to the saloon and pleads with Kal and "Four-Ace" to come to the meeting, as he realizes they are leaders, but they coldly decline to come. The next morning, after an all-night gambling session, they leave just as others are going to church. In the ensuing week the two men again meet the preacher and his daughter, and during an interesting conversation accompany the latter home before they notice it. Thorpe invites them inside to dinner, and the two gunmen agree. The preacher again reminds them of the meeting the coming Sunday and begs them to come. They are undecided. The Sunday finally arrives. Kal starts to go to church, but his courage fails him at the door and he returns to the saloon, where he finds "Four-Ace." "Kid" Marion, a cow puncher from a neighboring town, makes the acquaintance of Van, and finally one evening persuades her to go with him to a dance hall. Kal and "Four-Ace," knowing the unsavory reputation of the cowboy, offer to take Nan home. Rather than make a choice between them, she asks both men to accompany her. Later Thorpe enters the saloon and demands that Marion stay away from Nan. Marion, under the influence of liquor, abuses him, and finally draws his gun and deliberately shoots Thorpe as he is leaving. Both Kal and "Four-Ace" see this and shoot at the same time. The "Kid" is killed. Thorpe is carried home and found to be mortally wounded. He dies that night. Sunday comes. Kal comes into the saloon and asks all to be at the church, as he is to be master of ceremonies. All come, even "Four-Ace" taking a back seat. Kal does the best he can to make the meeting a success. Kal takes Nan to his own house and leaves her in charge of his housekeeper, while he moves his quarters to the hotel. Nan is unable to choose between the two men. Kal hears of a large shipment of gold coming in on the stage and starts to hold the stage up, but realizes he is now one of the leading members of the church and foreswears his past. "Four-Ace" proposes to Nan, and although she loves Kal out of a sense of duty, she tells the former that she will give her answer in a letter mailed to him at Dragon. When Kal proposes she accepts him, but on the way to church she confesses that she really loves "Four-Ace," and that she has written him a letter to leave the country. Not wishing to mar the girl's life's happiness, Kal intercepts the coach carrying the mail, and destroys the letter to "Four-Ace" just before he dies of a wound inflicted by a bullet from the pursuing posse. Later Nan informs "Four Ace" why Kal held up the stage, and he at last realizes the worth of the bandit. Written by
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