⁣Claiming to be a federal marshal, Gerald Eskith (Dan Duryea) arrives in Virginia City, armed with a subpoena for Jason Blaine (Fred Beir). Eskith demands that Jason accompany him to San Francisco to testify in the trial of the notorious Murdock gang. Although he owes his life to Eskith, Adam Cartwright is suspicion of the self-styled lawman, and insists upon accompanying the two men on their long and dangerous journey.

⁣ Shady sheepherder Jeb Drummond and his sons are grazing their herds on the Ponderosa. Ben tells them to get off the property, but the Drummonds have a different idea and take Adam hostage.

⁣Criminals have taken over Virginia City and are forcing citizens to pay for protection lest they suffer an "accident". A store owner who didn't pay is murdered by gang member and the sole witness, the victim's wife Beth, is offered protection at the Ponderosa. For his trouble, Ben is kidnapped by the gang leader!

⁣Hoss mentors a lonely, mentally challenged man who, with superhuman size and strength, becomes extremely dangerous when angered.

⁣Ben starts to have second thoughts about helping a brutal stockade commander track down three prisoners on the lam. Joe Maross, Gloria Talbott, and Grant Williams guest star.

⁣The Chinese citizens of Virginia City are targeted by a mayoral candidate's campaign to "hate outsiders". Philip Ahn and Helen Westcott guest star.

⁣Hoss and Little Joe are mistaken for bloodthirsty hired killers in a small Texas town dominated by two feuding families.

⁣A Quaker woman convinces Adam to take her wagon train on a perilous journey west.

⁣A family seeks revenge against Joe for shooting the treacherous patriarch in self-defense after the man tried to set fire to the Ponderosa. Jack Elam and Katherine Warren guest star..

⁣Joe romances a Gypsy (Susan Harrison) who thinks she's a witch.

⁣The Cartwrights offer to build a mill for a disabled rancher, only to come up against his corrupt hired hand.

⁣Joe's carnival date (Jackie Russell) is abducted in a deadly ransom plot. Gerald Mohr and Stafford Repp guest star.

⁣BONANZA - The Courtship

⁣A British couple visits the Cartwrights - and the woman (Hazel Court) thinks her own husband is a coward. Edward Ashley and Bert Freed guest star.

⁣A mysterious stranger (Vic Morrow) helps Hoss and Joe to save Ben and Adam before they're hanged like his father.