The Kansan 1943

In the late 1800s, the small Kansas town of Broken Lance sits along the Pacific Railroad corridor, where John Bonniwell [Richard Dix] — a sniper and Civil War veteran bound for a gold mine in Oregon — thwarts a Jesse James [George Reeves] gang raid on the local bank. He kills three gang members and drives the others to flight, but is wounded and ends up in the hospital. There, bank president Steve Barat [Albert Dekker] covers his medical costs and then gets him elected sheriff of Broken Lance. John, who doesn’t want the post, contemplates resigning, but Eleanor Sager [Jane Wyatt], owner of the town’s only hotel and a caretaker during his hospital stay, persuades him to stay.

Barat treats the sheriff as a puppet and expects him to follow his lead in every matter, effectively acting as Broken Lance’s uncrowned king. The first real test comes when Barat imposes an exorbitant fee on rancher John Wagoner for driving cattle across the banker’s land. Wagoner refuses to pay, and John defies Barat’s wishes by not arresting him.

Then the Hatton gang raids the town and starts a brawl in the Golden Prairie saloon, prompting John to arrest the raiders. The next morning, Barat posts bail and frees them. Shortly after, Tom Wagoner is found dead, and Barat hires the Hatton gang to murder him. While John investigates, Barat fabricates a bank robbery and enlists his brother Jeff Barat [Victor Jory] to help smear John. Jeff arrives with a suitcase of money and confesses the plan, doing so because he loves Eleanor.

As Barat presses ahead, John learns that a telegram has arrived in New York accusing Barat of large‑scale theft and forcing him to flee. With the threat mounting, Barat turns to Gil Hatton [Francis McDonald] to raid the town with his gang and kill John. Jeff, meanwhile, warns John as best he can. John discovers the gang plans to use a particular bridge to slip into town and undermines it. The collapse traps a large portion of the attackers, and Jeff is killed in the ensuing action.

The remaining Hatton men approach by another route, and a fierce battle follows. The fight ends with the death of their leader and a collapse in the gang’s morale. John carries on, bearing his wounds, while Barat is extradited and awaits punishment. The final moment arrives when John hears music and asks Eleanor what is being celebrated; she smiles and answers that, beyond the town’s peace, they are celebrating their engagement.