young wife of Skeeter, is used, abused and brow-beaten by her husband. Starved for love and affection - even a kind word - she makes a bid for Sweet Billie's love by an outside bath scene which takes place near a horse trough. This is followed by a clawing, hair-pulling brawl with the jealous Candy.

Sweet Billie, a forceful and virile yet gentle man, subsequently has a torrid love scene with Candy that has its conclusion in a bubbling brook. The web of twisted hillbilly emotions becomes even more complicated when the insanely jealous Candy, still seeking revenge against Billie for his dalliance with Mae, seduces the vacuous Jed in a barn. Skeeter, who has been spying on them, becomes enraged at their wanton display of passion and savagely whips both of them.

Because of this beating and abuse, Billie decides to take Candy away that night. Skeeter, drinking heavily while watching Candy prepare to leave his house, can no longer control himself and tries to rape her. Sweet Billie arrives on the scene just as Candy is running from the house - completely nude - with Skeeter in hot pursuit. A brutal fight over Candy ensues between the two men, and soon progresses to the top of a ravine. Skeeter, a hulking savage, is about to crush Sweet Billie's head with a boulder, when Billie sidesteps and kicks Skeeter over the cliff. Skeeter dies for the law he lived and loved by . . . the primitive law of the hills.