Skrivnostni samotar John Smith je plačanec, ki je zvest le samemu sebi in svojim pravilom. Kot da nima preteklosti, ne prihodnosti. Nekega dne ga pot zanese v zaspano teksaško mestece Jericho, kjer maloštevilnim prebivalcem vladata dve nasilni tolpi. Smith ob prihodu v mesto doživi neprijetno dobrodošlico in ko nato spozna še pokvarjenega šerifa Eda Galta, se kmalu znajde v vrtincu številnih spletk, prevar in nevarnosti. Če hoče preživeti, mu ne preostane drugega, kot da zakon vzame v svoje roke.
John Smith is an amoral gunslinger in the days of Prohibition. On the lam from his latest (unspecified) exploits, he happens upon the town of Jericho, Texas. Actually, calling Jericho a town would be too generous--it has become more like a ghost town, since two warring gangs have 'driven off all the decent folk.' Smith sees this as an opportunity to play both sides off against each other, earning himself a nice piece of change as a hired gun. Despite his strictly avowed mercenary intentions, he finds himself risking his life for his, albeit skewed, sense of honor....