In this biopic, Jim Bowie (Alan Ladd) goes to New Orleans, where he falls for Judalon (Virginia Mayo) and befriends her brother, Narcisse (Douglas Dick). Soon, Jim is forced to avenge Narcisse's murder, but Judalon takes up with another man. Jim eventually has another romantic interlude with Judalon and is forced to kill one of her suitors in self-defense. Jim leaves town, and falls for the daughter of a Texas politician, but his entanglement with Judalon continues to bedevil him.