Virgil Clay-Harris and Willet Blackwell, childhood friends, return home together from the Civil Battle at Chickamauga to Cartersville, Georgia. Both men are physically and mentally scarred for life by their wartime experience. They are both fondly greeted upon their return by Deekie, their childhood tomboy companion who has transformed into a beautiful Southern belle. She loves both men, but her choice between them is clouded when one becomes a vigilante while the other attempts to put his killing ways behind him and eke out a living in the reconstruction era. All comes to a head as a greedy Irish carpetbagger comes to town with his niece, the pure and innocent Ever. She becomes a friend to Clay (Virgil), a threat to Deekie, and an opportunity of revenge to Willet.