WhenschoolteacherHarrietWinslowgoestoMexicototeach,sheiskidnappedbyGenTomasArroyoandhisrevolutionariesAnagingAmerican,Ambrose"OldGringo"BiercealsoinMexico,befriendsGenArroyoandmeetsHarrietBierceisafamouswriter,whoknowingthatheisdying,wishestokeephisidentitysecretsohecandeterminehisownfateThoughhelikesArroyo,BiercetriestoprovoketheGeneral'sangerwheneverpossibleinanattempttogethimselfkilled,thusavoidingsufferingthroughhisillnessWinslowisintriguedbybothBierceandArroyo,andthemenareinturnattractedtoherShebecomesromanticallyinvolvedwithArroyoWhenWinslowlearnsofBierce'strueidentityawriterwhoseworkshehaslovedandrespectedforyears,sheissinglemindedlydeterminedtofulfillhisdyingwish