The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta

Rosita is horrified to learn from Joaquín that her 17-year-old brother, Reyes Feliz, has been hung, having been arrested and wrongly accused of the murder of General Bean shortly after recovering from his wounds. The youth went to his death unflinchingly, kissing a crucifix and persistently denying any involvement in Bean’s murder while acknowledging his guilt in many other crimes. Stricken with grief, Feliz’s lover, Carmelita, retreats into the forest, where she wanders, wild and inconsolable and fleeing human contact, until her death. The two are buried side by side.

Joaquín is tipped off that a party of Americans is preparing to attack his camp. After leading them around in a near circle, the bandits ambush their pursuers and a bloody fight ensues. Three-Fingered Jack falls into a bloodthirsty frenzy, and Joaquín struggles to restore him to reason. The two parties being equally matched, they eventually call a truce after heavy losses on both sides.

As Joaquín’s party rests and recovers at Santa Margherita, the news arrives that Mountain Jim has been apprehended and hung in San Diego.