Jonas Trapp (Chuck Connors) leave his bride, Jessie (Kathryn Hays), to earn a stake hunting buffalo. While returning eleven years later with $17,000 he's accused of being a cow thief and, despite...

Jonas Trapp (Chuck Connors) leave his bride, Jessie (Kathryn Hays), to earn a stake hunting buffalo. While returning eleven years later with $17,000 he's accused of being a cow thief and, despite the protests of banker Brooks Durham (Michael Rennie), is branded with a "T" by Elwood Coates (Claude Akins) and Johnsy Boy Hood (Bill Bixby). Awakening from pain-wracked delirium, he finds he's been cared for by Hanley (Paul Fix), his $17,000 gone. Reaching town, he learns from his father that Jessie believed him dead and is soon to wed Durham. Jones goes after Johnsy Boy, who denies stealing the money, then kills himself. Coates accuses Hanley of having it then kills him, finally accusing Durham he demands his share. Guilt-ridden Durham means to return the $17,000, but Jonas strikes him with his gun barrel first. In the end Jonas is forced to kill Coates. Still in love, Jessie follows Jonas as he drives off. Curator's note: Having spent several days canvassing town in his job as census taker, Mr. Delahay (James MacArthur) asks the bartender (Arthur O'Connell) to tell him the town's most famous story, which then unfolds in a lengthy flashback sequence and forms the bulk of the movie.