Ride Beyond Vengeance

A census taker arrives in Cold Iron and begins to survey the town. He enters the local bar to ask questions and is drawn to a painting hanging above the room. The bartender begins recounting the tale behind the painting, hinting at a legend that fuels the town's memory.

The bartender explains the story behind the painting, including the two famous nights—the Night of the Reprisal and The Night of the Tiger. He frames Jonas Trapp as the buffalo hunter central to the tale and foreshadows a man driven by revenge. The recounting hints that the present-day census taker is witnessing history rather than gossip.

Jonas Trapp, a poor cowboy, falls in love with Jessie Larkin, despite her aunt’s opposition. They plan to marry and dream of starting a life together. To secure her aunt’s approval, Jessie fakes a pregnancy, and Jonas reluctantly agrees to wed.

After the wedding, Jonas grows tired of living off Jessie’s wealth and asks Jessie to move with him to Dodge City so he can earn a living as a buffalo hunter. She refuses, insisting she stay where she is. Jonas leaves with the promise to return.

Over eleven years, Jonas builds his own fortune as a buffalo hunter. Jessie hears rumors that he was killed by a gunfighter, Clay Allison, and she believes him dead.

Jonas returns to Cold Iron only to be ambushed by Brooks Durham, John Hood, and Coates. He is accused of cattle rustling, branded with a hot iron, and left for dead as Durham steals his $17,000.

A farmer named Hanley finds Jonas and nurses him back to health, reviving his resolve for revenge. Jonas then returns to Cold Iron to confront the wrongdoers.

Jessie learns that her aunt has died and that she’s now engaged to Durham. When Jonas meets her on the street, she reacts with anger and fear, worried that his return will ruin her future.

Jonas hunts down Hood after a failed scheme and drives him to madness. Hood impales himself on a branding iron and later commits suicide.

Hanley is revealed as one of the rustlers, and Coates is killed in a dispute over money. Coates tries to blackmail Jonas, but Durham threatens him, recalling their past gun exploits.

Jonas confronts Durham; the banker admits branding him and taking the money. Jonas rejects the offer to return the funds and knocks Durham down.

Coates attacks Jonas in a drunken rage and is beaten and killed. Jonas leaves town, leaving his gun on the bar as Jessie pleads with him to stay and his father urges her to follow.

Back in the frame story, the bartender shows the census taker the pistol Jonas left behind. He explains that Jessie left town and neither she nor Jonas was ever seen again. The census taker questions whether 'home' can truly be found, while the bartender counters that the line 'you can never go home again' is only a song.

As the census taker departs, he glimpses Jessie’s mansion, once grand, now in ruins. The film closes on the idea that home is a memory, not a place, and that some journeys end where they began.