Civil War veteran Alan Ladd roams the frontier with his young son, who has not spoken a word after a traumatic shock during the war, searching for a doctor who can cure him. Along the way, Ladd accidentally runs afoul of sheep baron Dean Jagger and is forced into indentured servitude to farm woman Olivia de Havilland. Ladd falls in love with her, and vows to protect her land from the schemes of Jagger and his men. During the climatic final battle, Ladd's young son is finally able to find his voice again.