During the French and Indian War in 1757, Mohican Chingachgook

with his sons, Uncas and adopted white Nathaniel Hawkeye, visit the
Cameron frontier household. Friend Jack Winthrop tells them he is
gathering militia for the British army. General Webb agrees to grant
the militia leave if their homes are attacked, in return for their
reinforcement of Colonel Edmund Munro at Fort William Henry. Newly
arrived Major Duncan Heyward and the Huron guide Magua are
tasked with escorting Munro's daughters, Cora and Alice, from Albany
to their father at the fort. Duncan wishes to marry Cora, but she feels
only friendship for him. Magua leads the group into an ambush by his
Huron party, but Hawkeye, Uncas and Chingachgook save Duncan,
Cora and Alice and decide to escort them to the fort.
Along the way the Cameron home is found razed and its occupants
murdered, most likely by a war party as nothing has been stolen. The
group arrives at the fort which is under siege by the French, but
sneak in. Munro is surprised at his daughters arrival because he sent
a letter for them to stay away and requesting reinforcements, but the
courier was intercepted by Magua. The fort can only hold for three
more days, so a messenger is sent to General Webb for help. Cora
and Hawkeye have become attracted to one other, and so when
Munro and Hawkeye disagree about the attack on the Cameron
home, a jealous Duncan publicly claims that it was done by thieves.
He privately confesses to Munro afterwards that Hawkeye was
correct, but Munro believes that British interests and the defense of
the fort are more important, and refuses to let Jack and the militia
leave to defend their homes and families. Cora is disgusted by
Duncan for lying and tells him that she will not marry him. Hawkeye
secretly helps the militia escape, despite Munro's threats, and is later
arrested for sedition and sentenced to hang despite Cora's pleas. The
French General Montcalm generously offers all in the fort safe
passage to Albany if they surrender and vow to never fight in North
America again. Munro reluctantly accepts after Montcalm shows
Webbs intercepted message, showing that no aid is forthcoming.
Magua berates Montcalm for making peace, revealing that his village
was destroyed and his children killed by Munro's troops, assisted by
the Mohawk; though he regained his freedom from Mohawk captivity,
his wife remarried believing he was dead. Montcalm, though
intending to honor the terms, tacitly grants Magua permission to deal
with the British. The retreating British soldiers and their families are
ambushed by Magua's men. Magua cuts out Munro's heart from his

body, but not before promising to kill Munro's daughters to extinguish

his line. Hawkeye, Cora, Alice, Uncas, Chingachgook, Duncan and a
few others flee in canoes across Lake George and down a river to a
cave behind a waterfall, but Magua and his men are soon upon them.
For their safety, Hawkeye urges Cora and Alice to submit if captured
and promises he will find them later, then leaps with his father and
brother down the waterfall. Magua takes Duncan and the two sisters
to a Huron village.
Magua negotiates his captives fate with the sachem when they are
interrupted by the arrival of an unarmed Hawkeye. With Duncan
translating in French, Hawkeye convinces the chief that Magua is
acting for his own interests like the colonial powers, rather than for
the good of the tribe. The chief decides that Cora is to be burned
alive to atone for Magua's children, gives Alice to replace Maguas
wife so that both bloodlines can continue and orders Duncan's return
to the British to placate them. But Magua has stated that he intends
to kill Munro's children. Hawkeye is released in recognition of his
bravery, but pleads to take Coras place. Duncan deliberately
mistranslates, sacrificing himself instead so Hawkeye and Cora can
escape, whilst Magua curses the sachem and departs with Alice and
his men. From a safe distance, Hawkeye mercifully shoots Duncan as
he is burned alive.
Uncas, who had cared for Alice throughout, races ahead to intercept
Magua's band, killing several warriors before engaging Magua.
Magua kills him, then drops his body off the cliff. Rather than join
Magua, Alice follows Uncas by jumping to her death. Seeing this, an
enraged Hawkeye and Chingachgook set upon the Hurons;
Chingachgook kills Magua, avenging his son. After a ritual for Uncas
with Cora and Hawkeye, Chingachgook announces that he is the last
of the Mohicans.