Paradise Gate is a boomtown, a city risen out of nothing after the discovery of gold deposits. The master of the city is Mayor Wilson “King” Mac Kay, who has chosen James Hilton, a friend of Zagor's, as sheriff. Hilton refuses to be a puppet at Mac Kay's beck and call and so “King” has decided to kill him. Hilton survives but Zagor pretends that he is dead: and he becomes sheriff in his place and begins to fight against Mac Kay....
