Along the Great Divide

Federal marshal Len Merrick and his two deputies ride in to break up the lynch mob led by Ned Roden and rescue Tim 'Pop' Keith. They decide to take Pop to Santa Loma for a fair trial, rather than permit mob justice. Roden’s supporters grumble, but most of the mob yields to Merrick’s procedural insistence.

Roden leaves with his men to bury his dead son. Merrick discovers a pocket watch near the body, hinting at a hidden truth and the possibility that someone else may be involved. The watch becomes a clue that foreshadows later revelations about Dan.

To avoid pursuit, Pop suggests they spend the night at his cabin. Pop’s daughter Ann ambushes Merrick, but he disarms her and continues on with the group. The tense encounter adds romantic and moral tension to the journey.

To shake off Roden, Merrick takes an unplanned desert route. The plan backfires as Roden’s ranch hands overtake the caravan. In the ensuing gunfight, Merrick’s deputy Billy Shear is wounded, heightening the danger for the group.

Merrick captures Roden's son Dan, turning the pursuit into a dangerous and fragile standoff. They press on toward Santa Loma with a tense alliance in shaky balance. Billy dies from his injuries along the way.

Merrick and Ann develop a mutual attraction, even as Merrick reflects on his duty and a past lapse that cost his father’s life. Ann reveals her loyalty to Pop, complicating her stance toward Merrick. The relationship adds emotional depth to the central conflict.

Dan bribes Merrick's other deputy Lou Gray to help him escape, and Gray agrees to the arrangement. The betrayal strains trust within Merrick's team and escalates the tension as they move closer to Santa Loma. The plan introduces a dangerous internal conflict.

The group reaches a poisoned waterhole and faces a decision about whether to rest by a southern river or push on to Santa Loma. Merrick insists on going to Santa Loma, fearing delays and further danger. Gray draws his gun, but Merrick shoots it from Gray’s hand, leaving Merrick with three prisoners to manage.

Pop, wary of further confrontation, shoots Gray when he reaches for his rifle and then hands the gun back to Merrick. The act demonstrates Pop’s loyalty and shifts the power balance within the group. Merrick and Pop continue toward Santa Loma with a fragile alliance intact.

Back in Santa Loma, Pop is tried for the crimes the mob believes he committed. Merrick argues Pop’s innocence and attempts to sway the jury, but the evidence against him is overwhelming. The jury delivers a guilty verdict, setting the stage for a final confrontation.

Just before Pop's hanging, the watch inscribed to Dan is found, confirming he killed his brother. Merrick uses this revelation to confront the crowd and expose Dan’s guilt. Dan draws his revolver, grabs Ann as a shield, and shoots, killing Roden as he approaches.

Dan flees into a barn, where a gunfight with Merrick erupts. He leaps onto a horse in a desperate escape attempt, but Merrick shoots him in the back, mirroring the fate of his dead brother. The confrontation ends with Dan’s death and Merrick's uneasy victory.