Excellent opening scene that immediately engages the audience. Big rancher Clay (John Larch) and two cowhands have squatters Nolan (Ainsley Pryor) and wife trapped inside their crude sod dugout and won't let them out for food or water. Clay doesn't seem like a bad guy and neither does Nolan who just wants to hang on to what little he has. So what's the problem. Clay finally fetches Matt to enforce a court-order mandating the Nolans' eviction. Clay says one thing and Nolan another. Somebody's lying, but who?
Different kind of story-line, nicely done by director-scriptwriter Charles Marquis Warren who produced and directed these earliest installments. The staging at the sod dugout lends a lot of realistic atmosphere. Also, a well-thought-out and satisfying climax, with good turns by both Pryor and Larch. Notable too, for Kitty's passing innuendo about Matt's intentions toward the lovely saloon owner. Their exact relationship was a touchy one the producers never could resolve. As a result, it was left hanging year-in and year-out, and probably wisely so.