Thomas Crimmins is a new warder, or guard, in an Irish prison. He is young, naive, and idealistic, determined to serve his country by his part in meting out justice to criminals. His superior, Regan, however, realizes that even prisoners are human beings, and Regan is sick of the eye-for-an-eye attitude that leads the state to execute condemned men, or "quare fellows." Crimmins begins to see that not all is black and white in his new world, and when he becomes involved with Kathleen, the wife of one of the condemned men, his attitude begins to change. When new evidence arises to suggest that Kathleen's husband may not deserve his fate, Crimmins is torn between his duty and his humanity.
Sean Thornton voltou da América para a Irlanda onde pretende recuperar sua herdade e escapar de seu passado. Mas a atenção de Sean é capturada por Mary Kate Danaher, uma bela mas pobre donzela, e irmã mais nova do mal-humorado "Red" Will Danaher. O relacionamento turbulento que se forma entre Sean e Mary Kate, pontuado por tentativas belicosas de Will para mantê-los separados formam a trama principal, com o passado de Sean como boxeador atrapalhando um pouco.
