Intruder in the Dust

In a small town, Lucas Beauchamp, a Black man, is arrested for the murder of Vinson Gowrie, a white lumberman. As he is sent to the jail house, Lucas turns to Chick Mallison in the crowd, and asks for his uncle John Gavin Stevens to be his attorney. Chick returns home and has dinner with his parents and uncle, who inquires why Chick was at the jail house. Troubled by Lucas's arrest, Chick leaves the dinner table and goes to his bedroom, where John follows. There, Chick recalls on a cold November day, he was hunting rabbits with his black friend Aleck until he fell and nearly drowned in a frozen creek. Lucas, who owns land near the creek, comes to his aid and takes Chick to his residence, where Chick is fed and dressed in dry clothes. In gratitude, Chick tries to repay Lucas but Lucas will not accept his money.