From worse to terrible -- Civil War veteran Matt Weaver (George Segal) arrives in New Mexico worn down from combat, only to discover his family plot has been requisitioned and sold by cutthroat property developer Sam Brewster. When Weaver attempts to reclaim his land, Brewster hires a reclusive gunman (Yul Brynner) to take him out. However, the gunman proves uncontrollable. He refuses to kill Weaver and instead tries to seduce his wife (Janice Rule), all the while wreaking havoc throughout town.