Spring of 1848 somewhere along the San Carlos River, Arizona: Comancheros attack and massacre three families bound for the riches of California. Protected by his mother's body an infant is the lone survivor. Found by Mescalero Apache, they adopted and later named him Kilchii. Reared by the clan's chief, Sani, he learns the ways of the Apache. When Cochise calls for all the Apache to join him to drive the white-eyes from their land, Sani takes Kilchii, now a young warrior, and a box that contains Kilchii's heritage, to the San Xavier Mission. The Jesuits provide the inquisitive young man, whose Christian name is Rory McCloud, with a classical education. Befriended by the mission's priest, they leave to visit the Santa Fe dioceses. On the journey, they are attacked, but only he survives-wounded and left for dead. A bounty hunter, E.B. Parker, discovers Rory and nurses him back to health. Rory joins E.B. and learns the craft of hunting men along with the skill of firearms. Later, E.B., shot in the back from ambush-survives, but left paralyzed. Rory takes E.B. to Saint Louis to be with his daughter, Lucy. They fall in love and promise to marry, but first, Rory, as Kilchii, must avenge his friend and teacher's death ....