Cowboy escaping from the drought in the Northeast Brazil meets some officers led by a cruel lieutenant, whose main objective was to catch organized outlaws and invade the small town of Juazeiro. They arrest and torture him, hoping he would tell them the whereabouts of Padre Cícero, a prominent religious leader of the place. But he manages to escape and arrives in Juazeiro. The police invade the city and arrest the believers who were celebrating a party for Padre Cícero.

The town of Vila Velha is put under a reign of terror by a powerful colonel nicknamed "The Devil", who influences local politicians and hires gunslingers to shoot down those who stand up to him.