President Grant gives orders to agents James West and Artemus Gordon to deliver prisoner Rimsky to Vladivostok, Russia, in a prisoner exchange for American vice-consul Millard Boyer. When Rimsky dies in an escape attempt, Gordon assumes his identity. The agents are drugged en route and when they come to, led to believe they're in Russia. West is imprisoned and forced to reveal Rimsky's whereabouts. His captors tie him to a stake while saber-swinging Cossacks ride straight for him. Still in disguise, Gordon meets Rimsky's contact Sazanov, in an effort to uncover the Russians' racket.