Kyle Fontana decides to head into the wilderness and live alone, mourning the loss of his family in a murder-robbery, and disgusted with the whites’ treatment of the Indians. He is captured by Ute Indians, beaten, and left for dead. A young, half-Indian woman named Quiet Moon saves his life and persuades the Ute chief to allow him into the camp. Kyle slowly wins the chief’s trust and decides to live among the Utes. He takes Quiet Moon for his wife.

Gold has been found in a stream near the Ute village, and more and more white men begin to flood the area. The Utes try to scare them off, but that draws the attention of the U.S. Army, which sends cavalry troops out to dispatch the tribe. Kyle must choose between his heritage and his adopted family.