Desert Law (1918)

Don McLane and Julia Wharton are engaged. Rufe Dorsey, the local boss, who is above the law, covets Julia and "frames" Don for murder. He is given a prison sentence. Don is liberated at a junction point by Julia's brothers and they beat a retreat to the Wharton homestead, whither Dorsey goes to get the prisoner again. A stranger who recently appeared in the town joins the defending forces and when the fight goes against them he reveals himself to Dorsey as the Governor of the state. Dorsey has gone too far and determines to kill the Governor too, but the Governor has sent for the militia and they arrive in time to rescue the besieged, while a friend of Don's rides in with the "murdered" man, who was "very much alive this morning, but plenty dead now," for he had been shot in self defense.