In 1910, after fleeing his native Mexico, Felipe Rivera settles in El Paso, Texas, hoping to join a group of Mexicans who are living in exile and planning to overthrow the dictatorial regime of President Porfirio DĂaz. Although Felipe shares the guerrillas' desire to create a democratic Mexico, he must first prove to them that he is not a spy. The only member of the group who does not question Felipe's allegiance is Kathy, an American widow whose husband was executed by Mexican Federales. While Felipe works as a sparring partner at a gymnasium operated by a man named Roberts, a romance flourishes between him and Kathy. When Kathy asks Felipe about his past, he tells her the story of his life in Mexico, beginning when he was a fisherman on Lake Patzcuaro: One day, while he and his family are preparing for a fiesta, Felipe is visited by a wounded man, who reveals himself to be Durango, a guerrilla leader. Durango asks Felipe's help in hiding him from Col. Alvarado and his men, who are pursuing him. After helping Durango elude capture by Alvarado, Felipe escorts him to the mountains, where the guerrilla leader's allies await him. Felipe returns to the lake only to discover that his village has been set on fire by Alvarado, and that his fiancĂ©e and mother have perished. Felipe concludes his story by telling Kathy that his father, before dying, told him how the villagers tried in vain to defend themselves with only machetes. Time passes, and Felipe, now an established fighter, accepts a dangerous mission to go to Mexico to deliver a message to Durango. In Mexico, Felipe discovers that Durango is being held prisoner by Alvarado. After successfully rescuing Durango, Felipe abducts Alvarado and takes the colonel as a hostage. Durango then conducts an impromptu trial of Alvarado for the massacre at Felipe's village, with Felipe, the only surviving witness, giving testimony. Following Alvarado's conviction and death sentence, Felipe returns to El Paso and delivers Durango's request for additional weapons. When Kathy tells Felipe that there is no money to buy the guns that Durango needs, he decides to raise the money himself by fighting a champion boxer in a winner-take-all fight. Though he suffers a terrible beating at the hands of his opponent, Felipe eventually wins the match in a knockout. With the prize money, Felipe buys rifles for the guerrillas and delivers them to Durango, hopeful that his work will help bring about the end of the DĂaz regime.
