Following the Civil War, former Union soldier Joe Keller finds work on a ranch, falls in love, and is looking forward to a happy and prosperous life. But while riding through the Indian Territory, he is arrested for murder, a crime he did not commit. With no proof of his innocence, Joe Keller knows he will be hanged. Pursued by lawmen and bounty hunters, Keller must find a way to prove his innocence before he is captured, or killed.
The story of Joe Keller does not dwell on the crimes he commits as an outlaw. Instead, the story tells of Joe Keller's anguish caused by years of separation from the woman he loves, and his determination to prove his innocence. It also tells of the people he meets in his travels through the frontier.