The Sheriff of Burrtown calls in Gene Autry to help him stop the outlaw James Black, alias the Black Hawk, who has terrorized three states.; Gene Autry goes to Peaceful Mesa to visit his friend Pappy Hicks, the sheriff. On the way he finds a dead man and is accused of being his killer. When Gene gets to Peaceful Mesa, he has to avoid a lynch mob and then has to find out who has been setting a series of fires in the town.