Some rise by sin

In the Mexican village of San Patricio, a brutal drug cartel terrorizes the community, prompting townspeople to form a vigilante group while the army and police fight back. Into this dangerous environment steps Timothy Riordan, an American missionary priest who faces an impossible choice: betray his vows to stop the violence or protect his people.

Alongside him is Lisette Moreno, a doctor advocating modern medicine, who must keep her relationship with artist Pamela Childress a secret to gain acceptance. As Riordan's personal crisis deepens, it mirrors the instability and bloodshed plaguing the nation.