Henry Carson, a schoolteacher before the Civil War, shows up in a rural region of the Missouri hills.

He spends the night with a family consisting of Gill MacBean, his wife Sairy, and two of their children, young woman Lissy Anne and youngster Andrew.

Another son, Ben, had run off to fight in the war; the family's hope that he will someday return is gradually waning.

Henry offers to help with the farming; the MacBeans desperately need more hands, but Gill remains very suspicious of his motives.

When storekeeper and unofficial banker Cal Baggett visits the family to ask about repayment of a loan, Henry talks him into hosting a "play party", inviting everyone, regardless of affiliation, to help heal the rift in the community.

At first, the two groups do not mix, but Sairy talks Northern sympathizer Dan Yeary into dancing with her, breaking the ice.

After that, the party quickly breaks up, much to the secret delight of John Dessark and his son Badge.

Taking cover Henry kills four and captures the fifth after a lengthy footchase and fistfight at a burnt-out dwelling.