 Two mountain men ride by the McCain ranch and one, Ambrose, is enamored with Lucas  rifle. He tries to trade for it but Lucas won t trade. He is set on getting the gun and later that night they return to ranch and try to steal it. In the scuffle Gorwin is accidentally killed. Lucas returns his horse to his people in the high country but Ambrose has lied about what happened to Gorwin and the hill people hold Lucas accountable. A trial is called and Lucas is found guilty of murder and sentenced to five years labor to pay for Mrs. Morgan s loss.