In June of 1893, an arrogant and demanding, and wealthy old man named Williams hires Clay Jameson, former Pinkerton detective, to find his daughter and bring her home. His daughter has either been kidnapped by or has eloped with a man who Williams dislikes and wants eliminated from the picture. Jameson accepts the job, but promised only to find the girl and help her on her terms, and he declines the offer to kill her young husband. Consequently, Williams sends two of his ranch hands to follow Jameson and to eliminate the husband and return his daughter. The search takes them all from Martinez to Bodie, California, a lawless mining town on the decline from its once prosperous years, whose population includes miners, saloon owners, gunmen, and a prostitutes, all seeking to squeeze the last drop of blood from a dying town. Killings are a daily occurrence. Jameson must face enemies from within and without of the town to rescue the girl from forces within the town, and from her father as well.