.... heading for fairly certain, sudden death is Tot Lohman- just a youngster- riding south to catch up with his father- trailed by the Boyds, unforgiving after he had shot one of them in self-defense. He finds his father, strung from a tree, goes on alone to meet the Boyds, and forced to kill in cold blood -- learns that he has an even more implacable enemy to face- his conscience.... Shades of Shane and exceedingly effective.