Pete Mallory has invested most of his savings in a new road construction firm and is well on his way to making a profit on his first big contract. He's building a new access road connecting a lake to a new luxury resort development. All is going well until the owner of the land on which the road is being built, Mr. Ames, gets a court order stopping them on the grounds they are trespassing. A quick review from a judge confirms that Mallory does not have a right of way and it soon becomes apparent that he has been had. Edward Parker, who leased the construction equipment, reclaims his equipment - without the equipment, Mallory has no way to finish construction and will be forced into bankruptcy. After checking the maps and surveys, Mallory realizes someone switched surveys on him so he tracks down the people involved, leading to the resort developer, Stuart Benton. He has an altercation with Benton, who is found dead sometime later by his wife and a deputy. Mallory is charged with murder and Perry Mason agrees to defend him after being recommended earlier by Ames to help Mallory.
—garykmcd