While Earp is out of town bringing in Blackie Saunders against Kelley's orders, Curly and Ringgold take over Dodge City forcing Kelley to fire Earp and pay a ransom of $20,000 to prevent them from burning the city to the ground.

A mysterious killer has ambushed and killed nine people in the Robbers' Roost country of Utah. Wyatt's old Army friend, Colonel Benteen, begs him to take the case so that the cavalry may be saved in the event of an Apache attack. And before Wyatt is through he has to enlist the aid of every notorious outlaw in Robbers' Roost to get the mysterious killer and those behind him.

In his most energetic disguise, that of a cowhand, Wyatt Earp is after the murderer of a cousin and joins a cattle outfit coming up the Chisholm Trail. The Outfit is commanded by a devious tyrant who has unique punishments for those who offend him. Wyatt, suspecting him early, is put through a tough time.

Earp and Judge Tobin are forced to enforce a rustling law they think is too strict. A group of five ranchers have filed a complaint against another rancher but all of them have been guilty. Even Shotgun Gibbs is accused of stealing Roscoe.

Earp meets a man on the stage that treats an injured couple after a collision. Earp and Dr. McCarty who is impressed by the man's work urge him to open a practice in Dodge City but when smallpox breaks out they learn he isn't licensed.

Wyatt's younger brother, Morgan Earp, visits Dodge City and is immediately involved with Doc Holliday in a scheme to rescue the outlaw Smiley Dunlap, who is being held prisoner by Greg Norton and his gang. Wyatt's task of saving Morgan and Doc from being killed is made harder by his desire to keep his little brother from knowing he had a hand in rescuing the rescuers.

Doc Holliday is very sick with his wife Kate threatening to leave him since he won't follow anyone's instructions to get better. Earp convinces him he should reform to keep Kate. The reformed Doc with no liquor and guns keeps Earp busy.

A reformed gambler Tittle comes to Dodge City preaching against gambling and the devil. In this case the devil is the saloon owner Ganly who wants Tittle removed by any means forcing Earp to intervene when Tittle preaches in his saloon.

In 1879 Mayor Kelley wants to close down the remaining saloons just as Bat returns to take over the Lone Star saloon across from the most successful saloon and he has a young hostess he hopes to marry to draw the men to it.

Earp harbors a desire to own a ranch so when Doc has a chance to win one in a game, Earp goes in on it. They find a widow on the ranch with two of Earp's old criminal foes next door. Earp takes a liking to the widow but business first.

Word is received by telegraph that a cyclone is coming toward Dodge City. Shotgun doesn't believe it since his mule Roscoe isn't excited while Mayor Kelley and Dr. McCarty are trying to prepare for a disaster and Earp must rescue a dog.