The Virginian and Shiloh money are rescued by a lone man who he rewards with a job at Shiloh. He rubs the other men the wrong way, works hard, but is obviously a gunman. Clay Grainger soon realizes who he is but won't let him be fired.
The Virginian, trying to calm a rampaging boy, shares the story of Trampas' gambling father who reformed. That father tried to reform Trampas before Garth was forced to kill him in self-defense, setting Trampas on a quest for vengeance.
The Virginian recalls his arrival at Shiloh when he went to work for a neighboring ranch that was close to a range war with Shiloh. He is caught in a feud with the foreman causing the fight and falls in love with the girl engaged to him.
The Virginian tracks the man who killed a young friend in a bank robbery. He finds the man's wife and young son alone on a run down ranch. Finding they need help, he stays on as a ranch hand but soon finds himself in a misguided situation.
A legal fight over a strip of land between Shiloh and the Bowden ranch turns nasty. The fight over cools when the Bowdens mistakenly believe Shiloh has hired a gunfighter but turns serious when they learn he is just a simply handy man.
Sheriff Dan Porter leaves his job in Mason City to follow his wife Emily to Medicine Bow as she can't handle the pressure of his job. He signs on at Shiloh to learn ranching so he can start a ranch and new life with his wife.
An old maid bank teller who decides it is time to provide for herself identifies Trampas as a bank robber and murderer in order to extort $10,000 from the actual thief. The Virginian is the only thing between Trampas and the hangman's noose.
Holly finds two cowboys who are looking for work. The younger hand Jim looks up to Ben as the only father he has ever known as the two roam around looking for a place to settle. Ben isn't ready to settle down but Jim may have found a home.
Stacey is forced to kill a man who tries to rob him. He returns the body to the man's sister who asks Stacey to leave rather than see the Sheriff. She is afraid their younger brother who joins the Shiloh cattle drive will try for revenge.
The Virginian sees Bill Burden with two other men who are returning money from selling ranchers' herds. The two leave together but the money is stolen and Bill is lynched. The Virginian wants revenge when he is too late to clear Bill.