A small Nevada town is expecting a preacher, the new circuit rider, to come and hold Christmas services. On the way, three renegade Paiutes bushwhack him near Battle Mountain. The preacher, also an excellent marksman, somehow manages to shoot and kill all three of his attackers while being mortally wounded himself. A gunslinger wanted in another state for a robbery and murder he did not commit is on the run. He happens by the scene and sees the three dead renegades and the preacher lying there dying. He tries to save the preacher, but the bullets and stabbing hit some vitals and he lost too much blood. The preacher, just barely able to whisper, is breathing heavily. In his raspy voice struggles to speak. Despite the coughing and gurgling due to the blood gathering in his throat and spitting up blood he manages to utter some words. He utters a message to Leroy Dillinger, a request...to make him promise to bring Christmas to the orphans of Star City, Nevada, which he finds out is now run by a ruthless and violent land baron and his eccentric wife. The preacher makes him promise to take his place, as the preacher and even take his name.
