Welcome back to Branson, Oregon where murder, love and obsession lurk behind every corner. U.S. Deputy Marshal Matt Bannister is troubled by the cruel and unnatural death of miner Leroy Haywood. There are no witnesses or clues of any kind, just a very slow and horrible murder...unlike any Matt had seen before. He suspects Wu-Pen - the President of the Chinese Benevolent Association and a powerful man in the Chinese community...