Washington Territory and the threat against the foothill ranchers is the background for the fight that Buck Temple makes to redeem his good name and regain his lost cowspread. Tried, convicted and pardoned on a murder charge, Buck is out to put the logging and railroad interests in their place, returns to Rim Rock to establish his innocence, is framed and reframed -- and with the help of another, and better gal, makes good. Plausible pattern.