After years on the hunt, Cedar Kartes is finally within striking distance of Cudgel Conrad, the criminal who slew his brother and framed him for murder. With the help of Kali McAlister, his business partner and the woman he's mustering the courage to court, he believes he can finally rid the world of a bloodthirsty felon.

But nothing is ever easy in the Yukon. The new police commissioner has taken an interest in Cedar's checkered past, a suspicious newspaperman is trying to make friends with Kali, and Cudgel may be laying traps for Cedar even as Cedar is trying to trap him.