The Stranger, a wandering adventurer, rides into a Mexican village ruled by the bandit Aguila. As The Stranger looks on, Aguila captures and shoots a detachment of Mexican soldiers sent to receive a shipment of U. S. gold and dresses his outlaws in the dead soldiers' uniforms to await the arrival of the U. S. troops bringing the gold. Posing as a U. S. Army captain, The Stranger offers his assistance to Aguila in exchange for a promise of half the gold, but the bandit reneges on the agreement once the troops have departed. The Stranger escapes with two bags of gold and takes refuge with Cica, a young widow whose husband was killed by Aguila. To save Cica and her baby, The Stranger gives up the gold and flees when the house is besieged by Aguila, but the bandit abducts Cica. The Stranger is captured as he attempts to recover the gold, and he is brutally beaten by Aguila and his men. Aguila's sadistic mistress, Maruka, assumes charge of his torture, but he escapes with Cica and the gold. Aguila follows The Stranger to Cica's house, and a final gun battle ensues. The Stranger guns down the bandits one by one and then kills Aguila, who is armed with a machine gun. The American troops return to recover the gold, but The Stranger is permitted to keep half the loot as a reward.