Bait

Marko has spent years chasing a gold mine whose entrance disappeared about twenty years ago. The locals still blame him for the death of his partner, a tragedy that haunts his reputation. This unresolved past motivates his later ruthless decisions.

To fund a prospecting expedition, Marko teams up with the bright young Ray Brighton. They pool their resources and set out to locate the long-lost mining entrance. The uneasy alliance foreshadows the tension to come.

During the expedition they finally locate the mine. The discovery promises riches but also new risks. Marko weighs the possibility of sharing profits with Ray.

Marko decides he does not want to share the find and schemes to murder Ray. He hides his true intent behind a veneer of partnership while plotting to escape justice. The threat casts a dark shadow over the camp.

Marko approaches Peggy, a young widow with a baby, and offers marriage as a means to secure the mine and their future. He implies protection while the locals label Peggy as a fallen woman. She accepts in hopes of safety for her child.

Peggy agrees to Marko's proposal, determined to provide security for her child. She hopes the arrangement will shield her and her baby from hardship. The alliance appears transactional, masking growing tension.

Even as he keeps Peggy and Ray under his control, Marko fosters a sense of camaraderie by encouraging them to be friendly and even dance together. He presents himself as a mentor while secretly plotting. The illusion of harmony thickens the trap around them.

As Christmas approaches, Ray suggests dividing the gold three ways, recognizing Peggy's equal hard work. Marko gives a noncommittal reply, while his true intent remains hidden. The proposed split escalates suspicion and foreshadows a fatal trap.

Marko claims he forgot to buy salt and promises to fetch it in town the next day. He departs, while Ray and Peggy continue their work. The absence provides a window for Marko's plan to unfold without interference.

Ray spots a bag of salt hidden away and notices a melted ice patch on the cabin window, revealing Marko's spying. He realizes Marko used the ruse of leaving town to return unexpectedly and trap them under the unwritten law. The truth crystallizes as a survival issue.

Marko bursts into the cabin with a weapon, but Ray knocks it away from him. A tense struggle reveals Ray's understanding of Marko's plan. Peggy's safety becomes the immediate concern as the fragile peace collapses.

Ray explains that Marko hoped to kill him and escape punishment by invoking an unwritten law. The frontier code is tested as Peggy and Ray reassess their chances of safety. The plan rapidly falls apart under pressure.

Realizing the danger, Ray and Peggy pack their things and decide to leave, taking only what they need and leaving Marko his share of the gold. They head toward the highway, seeking safety away from the remote cabin. This marks a break from the killer's influence and a chance at a new life.

As they depart, Marko lunges at Ray but is repelled. He realizes his leg is broken and that he cannot survive the winter alone in the cabin. The tragedy mirrors the fate of his former partner and seals his downfall.