In Kentucky just after the Civil War, the Hayden-Colby feud leads to Jed Colby being sent to prison for 15 years for murder. The Haydens head for Nevada and when Colby gets out of prison he heads there also seeking revenge. The head of the Hayden family tries to avoid more killing but the inevitable showdown has to occur, complicated by Lynn Hayden and Ellen Colby's plans to marry.

After General Robert E. Lee accepts terms of the South's surrender at Appomattox in 1865, Mark Hayden, widower and soldier, heads home, planning to move out West with his family. Before he arrives, however, his father-in-law, Grandpa Spelvin, is killed by Jed Colby, who has been feuding with the Spelvins for years. Mark refuses to continue the feud and leaves his son Lynn behind to take care of Granny Spelvin, while he and his other children, Ann and Bill, head out West, where they stake a claim. Fifteen years later, Jed Colby is released from prison and also heads out West with his tomboy daughter Ellen and cohort, Jim Daggs, vowing vengeance against Mark. Colby and Daggs slowly raid Mark's ranch for a year. In the meantime, Ann has married Neil Stanley and Bill has married Molly. When Neil kills Colby's horse thief, Mark refuses to rekindle the feud, but the Colbys steal from Mark's herd again and wound Neil. Lynn Hayden then reappears and falls in love with Ellen Colby. The Colbys again converge on the Haydens, and during the gunfight, Bill is killed. Furious, Mark rides to the Colbys' but Jed shoots him. The Haydens follow the Colbys in a chase into a canyon, where, unknown to even Jed, Daggs has planted dynamite. The explosion causes a landslide, killing all but Daggs and Lynn. Severely injured, Lynn rides back to see Ellen, who hides him in the loft. Daggs shows up to claim Ellen, but after a struggle, Lynn kills him. Finally, Lynn and Ellen marry.