Another Virginian, Randy Gault, whose sympathies are not southern, goes West after the Civil War to head into some wanton vigilante injustice-- a Major's secret society militia which massacres an unarmed man, wife and child, and Gault is next on their list. In between is Rachel Scott who transfers her romantic allegiance from the Major to Gault before the sanguinary showdown... The Bitter Iron is not Branded entertainment but sturdy and active from beginning to bitter end.