Killian demonstrates that, contrary to Beck's beliefs, cattle and sheep can be kept together and share the local water sources without detriment to either animal, and argues that this is no different than how people of all kinds can live together in harmony.

Beck and his allies call for Killian's expulsion from the town, but others come to the preacher's defense, asserting he had already paid his debt to society in prison and he has earned a second chance.

While Killian is discussing the Becks' recent razing of sheepherder Scotty Andrews' homestead with Madge McCloud, the madam of the local saloon and brothel, Coke corners Leloopa in the town stables and rapes her.

In response, Asa Beck begins moving his cattle herd to the contested watering hole with intent to occupy the area and permanently shut out the sheepherders.

He orders Mace to burn down Killian's church and kill the preacher, then prepares to ambush the sheepherders, who are driving their herds to the watering hole alongside Murdock and Paterson to defy Beck's blockade.

An enraged Killian gears up to take revenge against Beck, but Madge intervenes and insists that he choose between being a preacher or a gunman once and for all, as his attempt to straddle the line between the two opposing roles has only undermined his efforts to bring about peace.

"[2] Critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a negative review, writing, "...[director] and writer Richard Carr load the genre pic with cliches and violent sequences.