Murder on the Yukon is a 1940 American adventure film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and written by Milton Raison. It is based on the 1931 novel Renfrew Rides North by Laurie York Erskine. The film stars James Newill, Polly Ann Young, Dave O'Brien, Al St. John, William Royle and Chief Thundercloud. The film was released on February 25, 1940, by Monogram Pictures.

Plot

Joan Manning and George Weathers are partners in the trading post where miner Jim Smithers exchanges his gold dust for cash. Jim’s unexpected announcement that he plans to leave for Montreal disturbs Weathers, who is the clandestine head of a counterfeiting ring, because Jim is carrying his phony money. Consequently, Weathers orders his henchman, Hawks, to kill Jim before he passes the money in the city. Sergeant Renfrew and Constable Kelly are on vacation when they come across the dead body, lying in his canoe, shot through the heart. Renfrew rides to Jim’s cabin to search for clues and is attacked by Weathers’ men, who have since removed the rest of the counterfeit money. Jim’s brother is found dead, along with a suicide note claiming that he’d killed himself after murdering Jim, but Renfrew suspects murder after finding a counterfeit bill. Kelly follows Monti, an Indian who works for Weathers, to the counterfeiter’s hideout, where he is captured by the gang. From the riverbank, Renfrew sees the gang escaping in canoes and apprehends one of the boats, where he discovers the money hidden among fur pelts. Monti and Hawks escape with the rest of the furs and take refuge at the trading post. There, Renfrew surprises them and arrests Hawks for the murders. Before he can round up the counterfeiters, however, the gang jumps Renfrew and takes him prisoner. Meanwhile, at the hideout, Kelly escapes and comes to the rescue. Together, Sergeant Renfrew and Constable Kelly arrest the gang.