When jury returns with the 'not guilty' verdict for an old town crook and smuggler Ollie Jacks it brings dissensions among few prominent people in the town. Everyone thought that Ollie deserves death for what he is believed to have done, but one of the town leaders, Clay Morgan, decides to spare his life and guarantees him safety if he stays in town. But Ollie can't trust Morgan's promise and goes on a run which propels a posse containing both those who want Ollie dead and those who want to rescue him.