A young man's struggle with public expectations, wrongful suspicion, and courage culminates in a desert pursuit.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
A Sweetheart Returns
Grace Nolan returns from college to a western community shaped by guns and liquor. Art Jordan's claim that she is his steady creates an emotional challenge.
Key Events
Grace Returns From College — Grace Nolan returns from college to the western community. Characters: Grace NolanLocation: Western community
The Community's Rough Customs — The community is accustomed to guns and freely drunk liquor.
Location: Western community
Art Claims Grace — Art Jordan announces that Grace Nolan is his 'steady.' Characters: Grace Nolan, Art JordanLocation: Town
Grace Teaches A Lesson — Grace Nolan goes along with Art Jordan's claim to teach the protagonist a lesson. Characters: Grace Nolan, Art JordanLocation: Town
A Failed Display Of Roughness — The protagonist tries to act rough in order to please Grace Nolan.
Location: Town
Murder In The Town
Andrew McBride, a mortgage holder over nearly everyone in town, is found murdered. Suspicion falls on the last person known to have seen him.
Key Events
A Failed Display Of Roughness — The protagonist tries to act rough in order to please Grace Nolan.
Location: Town
The Town Laughs — The townspeople laugh when the protagonist attempts to appear rough.
Location: Town
Andrew Holds Mortgages — Andrew McBride holds mortgages on nearly everyone in town. Characters: Andrew McBrideLocation: Town
Andrew Is Found Murdered — Andrew McBride is found murdered, changing the town's mood. Characters: Andrew McBrideLocation: Town
Suspicion Follows The Last Meeting — Suspicion falls on the last person known to have seen Andrew McBride. Characters: Andrew McBrideLocation: Town
A False Confession Attempt — The protagonist tries to confess to free his arrested father.
Location: Town
Justice Turns Violent
An attempted confession is rejected while Art Jordan urges the townspeople toward a lynching. The protagonist knocks Art down and discovers that the threat continues.
Key Events
A False Confession Attempt — The protagonist tries to confess to free his arrested father.
Location: Town
The Sheriff Rejects The Confession — The sheriff stops the attempted confession by saying, 'You can't do it!'
Location: Town
Art Demands A Lynching — Art Jordan tries to persuade the townspeople to lynch the arrested man. Characters: Art JordanLocation: Town
Art Is Knocked Down — The protagonist unexpectedly knocks Art Jordan down. Characters: Art JordanLocation: Town
Further Lynching Plans Surface — The protagonist learns that further plans exist to lynch his father. Characters: Art JordanLocation: Town
The Gun Is Taken — The protagonist takes a gun as the threat against his father escalates.
Location: Town
Flight Into The Desert
The protagonist takes a gun, holds the sheriff and townspeople at bay, and rides away with Grace Nolan. The pursuing group follows them toward the desert.
Key Events
The Gun Is Taken — The protagonist takes a gun as the threat against his father escalates.
Location: Town
The Crowd Is Held At Gunpoint — The protagonist covers the sheriff and some townspeople with the gun.
Location: Town
Grace Is Taken Away — The protagonist grabs Grace Nolan and rides away with her. Characters: Grace NolanLocation: Town
The Pursuit Begins — The sheriff and townspeople ride after Grace Nolan and the protagonist. Characters: Grace NolanLocation: Road outside town
The Chase Reaches The Desert — The pursuit reaches the desert, where the central issues approach resolution. Characters: Grace NolanLocation: Desert
Murder And Courage Are Settled — The identity of Andrew McBride's murderer and the protagonist's courage are settled. Characters: Grace Nolan, Andrew McBrideLocation: Desert
Story Breakdown
Western Community — The story begins in a community where guns and liquor are common.
Rough Social Customs — The town's culture openly accepts guns and freely drunk liquor.
Gentle Upbringing — The protagonist was not raised to be rough despite the surrounding culture.
Grace Returns — Grace Nolan comes back from college and becomes central to an emotional test.
College Homecoming — Grace Nolan returns to the western community.
A Claimed Steady — Art Jordan announces that Grace Nolan is his steady.
Emotional Challenge — Grace Nolan's cooperation with Art Jordan provokes an attempt to appear rough.
Grace's Lesson — Grace Nolan goes along with Art Jordan's claim to teach the protagonist a lesson.
Public Laughter — The town laughs when the protagonist tries to act rough.
Murder Investigation — Andrew McBride's death transforms social tension into a criminal crisis.
Mortgage Holder — Andrew McBride holds mortgages on nearly everyone in town.
Andrew Found Dead — Andrew McBride is found murdered, and suspicion follows the last meeting.
Mob Justice — The town's suspicion escalates into an attempted lynching.
Rejected Confession — The protagonist attempts to confess to free his father, but the sheriff stops him.
Art's Lynching Call — Art Jordan tries to get the townspeople to lynch the arrested man.
Desert Reckoning — Armed resistance and pursuit lead to a desert settlement of the central questions.
Armed Escape — The protagonist takes a gun, covers the sheriff and townspeople, and rides away with Grace Nolan.
Final Truth — The desert resolves the murderer's identity and establishes the protagonist's courage.
Trained by his Quaker mother to be gentle, Cyril Henderson receives only laughter from the townspeople when he tries to act tough to impress Grace Nolan, who is allowing Art Jordan, the town bully, to occupy her time so as to pique Cyril. The murder of Andrew McBride, who holds the mortgage on the Henderson's property, is blamed on the elder Henderson, and Cyril unsuccessfully tries to take the blame.
Directed by
Nat Ross
Key Cast
Hoot Gibson — Cyril Henderson (as Edward 'Hoot' Gibson)
