 Big land developers from New Orleans, with reputed connections to the mob, want to buy a large tract of land near Sparta for a reservoir and housing development. By chance, Lana Farren s (Bill Gillespie s daughter) property is a major part of the plan, but she does not want to sell. To make the deal work, Sparta real estate agent Betty Simms and lawyer Alvin P. Epp conspire with arsonist Ron Griff to torch Lana s house.