The Bad Man

American Gil Jones is happy when his childhood sweetheart Lucia unexpectedly arrives at his Mexican ranch, but hurt to learn that she is now married to New York businessman Morgan Pell. That same afternoon, Pancho Lopez, a notorious bandit, rustles the ranch's cattle and wounds Gil. Gil's wheelchair-bound Uncle Henry is angry over the loss because they are broke, and worried over Lucia's concern for Gil. That evening, when Morgan tells Lucia he has been happy in their marriage but fears she may still be in love with Gil, she promises to stay with him. A month later, when banker Hardy arrives in anticipation of foreclosing on the ranch, Henry suggests that Gil marry Hardy's daughter Angela. Gil and Lucia later talk theoretically about love, and Lucia reveals that she could never leave Morgan because he loves her so much. While ranch hand "Red" Gidding is walking with Angela, with whom he has always been in love, Morgan returns from town and offers to buy the apparently worthless ranch for $20,000. Hardy is angry because he wants the ranch, and a suspicious Henry gets both men to admit that there "may" be oil on the land. When Morgan raises his offer, Gil jumps at it and signs the paper, but Lucia is disappointed in Morgan. As Henry is lamenting the loss of the ranch and the fact that everyone seems to be unhappily in love, Lopez and his men arrive and take everyone hostage, except for Gil, who had gone out to the barn. Lopez likes Henry and the pretty Lucia, with whom he discusses love and freedom, but dislikes Morgan and hates Hardy because he is a banker. Henry then decides to foment trouble by explaining their underhanded attempts to get the ranch. When Lopez says that he knows exactly where oil can be found, Morgan and Hardy bid up to $200,000 for the ranch, to which Lopez is now laying claim. They soon find out that Lopez is only using the tactic to find out how much ransom he might get for them. He and his men then take them outside, but encounter Gil, who draws a rifle on Lopez. Gil is soon overcome by the bandits and Lopez orders him hanged, even though he is impressed with Gil's bravery. As Gil is strung to a tree, Lopez suddenly recognizes him as the man who had saved his life five years before. Lopez determines to help Gil by "changing the laws around here." After Henry explains all of the unhappy romances at the ranch, Lopez uses some psychology to help Angela realize that she really loves "Red," then declares that he is going to kill Morgan so that Lucia and Gil can be together. Gil intercedes because he does not want anyone hurt, but when Lopez tells Morgan that he will be killed, Morgan quickly offers to divorce Lucia. This greatly angers Lopez, who despises Morgan's cowardice and is not moved by Morgan's pleas that Lopez can have Lucia and all of his money in exchange for his life. Lopez then orders his man Pedro to take Morgan into the canyon to kill him. Gil and Lucia cannot dissuade Lopez, who then rides off with his men saying that he will make Gil happy whether he wants it or not. In the canyon, Morgan tries to bribe Pedro, but when they hear a gun battle between Lopez's men and "the policia," Pedro is distracted and Morgan is able to disarm him. Morgan then shoots him in cold blood. At the ranch, as Gil is comforting Lucia, Morgan comes back. He misinterprets their actions and orders Lucia to come with him, and when she refuses, he draws the gun on them. As Gil and Morgan then scuffle, Lopez appears at the door and shoots Morgan to death. Lopez tells Gil about Pedro, and says "now everything is fixed." When Henry reveals that the honest Gil gave the mortgage, which Lopez had returned to Gil earlier, back to Hardy, a frustrated Lopez offers to sell the cattle that he rustled from the Jones ranch to honestly pay off the mortgage. Lopez then gives Henry's wheelchair a fast-paced tow to town to pay the mortgage before the deadline.