A band of outlaws led by former Confederate soldier Dee Bishop kill a wealthy rancher during the attempted robbery of a Texas bank. The gang is arrested by Sheriff Johnson, tried, and sentenced to die on the gallows. Dee's older brother, Mace, disguises himself as the hangman and stages a last-minute rescue of the five men. The outlaws flee across the Mexican border, taking the murdered rancher's widow, Maria Stoner, as hostage. While Sheriff Johnson, Deputy Roscoe Bookbinder, and a posse are pursuing the gang, Mace robs the bank and then goes to join his brother's band in a deserted town once ravaged by bandoleros. The fugitives begin arguing among themselves, with Mace, Dee, and Maria on one side, and Pop Chaney and his cowardly son Joe on the other. Eventually, Dee falls in love with Maria and contemplates founding a Montana homestead to atone for his errant past, but his plans are foiled by the arrival of Johnson. Though the sheriff, who is also in love with Maria, captures Dee's men, he is forced to release them when the bandoleros launch an attack. In the slaughter that ensues, Dee and Mace are both killed by the bandolero leader, Angel Muñoz, who is then gunned down by Maria. After burying the two brothers, Johnson and Maria head back to Texas.
