Rollins, the unscrupulous director of a land trust engaged in speculation, becomes enraged when Apache leader Winnetou thwarts his attempt to provoke the Indian tribes into war. The governor asks Winnetou and his white blood brother, Old Shatterhand, to arrange a peace treaty with White Buffalo, an Indian chieftain who has fallen under Rollins' influence through numerous gifts of whiskey and firearms. An agent for the land trust finds out about the mission and informs Rollins, who sets a trap for Winnetou and Old Shatterhand. After an ambush fails, Rollins frames Winnetou for the murder of White Buffalo's son, but Sam Hawkins, an elderly scoundrel, saves Winnetou. Forced to engage in warfare, Winnetou leads his warriors against the united forces of White Buffalo's braves and Rollins' gunmen. The Apaches, close to being defeated, make their last stand, and the cavalry, dispatched by the governor to insure peace, arrives too late to save Winnetou, who dies intercepting a bullet meant for Old Shatterhand.