Nevada Smith

In the 1890s American West, Bowdre, Coe, and Fitch murder Max Sand's white father and Kiowa mother when they come for the gold they believe the family possesses. The killing leaves Max traumatized and hungry for revenge. He vows to track down the killers and make them pay.

While wandering the desert, Max uncovers a rusty gun that reveals its weakness to him. He tries to rob Jonas Cord, a traveling gunsmith, but Cord sees the gun is non-functional and declares the attempt a failure. Cord chooses to shelter Max and listen as he recounts his vendetta.

Cord shelters Max at his camp and begins teaching him to shoot, recognizing the danger of letting vengeance go unchecked. He emphasizes skill, discipline, and patience as essential to surviving the pursuit. Max accepts the instruction and continues toward his target.

Max follows Coe to Abilene, Texas, where he confronts Coe in a saloon and nearby corral. A knife fight leaves Coe dead and Max badly wounded. Neesa, a Kiowa dance hall girl, arrives and carries him to safety while tending his wounds.

Neesa takes Max to her tribe's camp to recover, where the pair grow closer and eventually become lovers. The relationship adds a personal dimension to Max's quest and anchors his return to the chase. Max remains resolved to hunt the remaining killers.

Max learns Bowdre is imprisoned in a remote Louisiana swamp prison camp. He deliberately commits a bank robbery to be sent to the same facility, setting up a trap to face Bowdre. The plan centers on luring Bowdre into an escape that leads to a deadly swamp confrontation.

Pilar, a Cajun girl near the convicts' camp, agrees to help Max reach Bowdre by guiding a boat through the swamp. The voyage ends when the boat capsizes and Pilar is bitten by a poisonous snake. Max kills Bowdre, but Pilar dies from the venom.

Max escapes from the swamp and continues hunting Fitch, infiltrating his gang by adopting the alias Nevada Smith. Fitch remains wary, suspecting a traitor among his men as the gang plans a gold-transport robbery. Max stays hidden, waiting for the moment to strike.

Cord unexpectedly spots Max, now calling himself Nevada Smith, within Fitch's circle and calls out his name. Max ignores him to avoid blowing his cover. Fitch grows more paranoid, suspecting a traitor in his ranks.

The gang rides out to commit the gold-transport robbery, and Max watches from a hill as they gather the loot. Fitch realizes Nevada Smith is Max Sand and tries to flee with his share. Max remains poised, prepared to confront Fitch when the time comes.

Max corners Fitch at a creek and shoots his hand when the man pretends to surrender. Fitch begs for his life, but Max refuses to kill him, deeming vengeance not worth his life. He rides away, leaving Fitch wounded and screaming for a death he will not receive.