WhenschoolteacherHarrietWinslowgoestoMexicototeach,sheiskidnappedbyGen.TomasArroyoandhisrevolutionaries.AnagingAmerican,Ambrose"OldGringo"BiercealsoinMexico,befriendsGen.ArroyoandmeetsHarriet.Bierceisafamouswriter,whoknowingthatheisdying,wishestokeephisidentitysecretsohecandeterminehisownfate.ThoughhelikesArroyo,BiercetriestoprovoketheGeneral'sangerwheneverpossibleinanattempttogethimselfkilled,thusavoidingsufferingthroughhisillness.WinslowisintriguedbybothBierceandArroyo,andthemenareinturnattractedtoher.ShebecomesromanticallyinvolvedwithArroyo.WhenWinslowlearnsofBierce'strueidentity(awriterwhoseworkshehaslovedandrespectedforyears),sheissinglemindedlydeterminedtofulfillhisdyingwish.