Harmonika, an American deserter, is captured by a tribe of Indians, who believe he has murdered the wife and child of their chief Grey Elk. It is the chief himself who sets the American free, and Harmonika stays with the tribe and gradually wins their friendship. He becomes the blood brother of his one-time enemy Hard Rock and marries his new friend's sister Fawn. Harmonika becomes increasingly more aware of the purposeful lies of the white men.