Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition (Initial Situation)
Backhanded Promotion
A group of Cardinals in Rome decide that they need someone new to take over the Catholic diocese of New Mexico, now that the Americans have taken this region from Mexico. One of the men suggests Father Latour and eventually gets the others to agree. Father Latour and his buddy Father Vaillant make their way to New Mexico and have a tough time adjusting to the harsh frontier life. But they make the best of the situation and learn to live there.
Rising Action (Conflict, Complication)
Who Do You Think You Are?
The biggest problem with Father Latour and Vaillant taking over the Catholic churches in New Mexico is that there are a bunch of Mexican priests who still live there. The area hasn't suddenly become more American just because America has conquered it. As far as the people living there are concerned, the place is still mostly Spanish. Some of the old Mexican priests won't give up their power without a fight, but the conflict eventually resolves itself as these men die off from old age and disease.
Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)
Bishop's Blues
When Father Vaillant hears about a big gold and silver rush happening in Colorado, he decides to move to the area to convert the prospectors and miners to Catholicism. But his departure leaves Father Latour without his closest friend, and Latour becomes lonely over time. At this point, Willa Cather makes her book jump forward at least thirty years to when Father Vaillant has died of illness and Latour (now an Archbishop) is growing old and wondering about what his life will mean once he's gone.
Falling Action
Old Dogs
In old age, Latour gets sick and knows that his time has come. He spends his last days worrying that the white invaders will eventually kill off the Native American peoples of New Mexico and Arizona. He thinks back and wishes he had done more to help these people, but the truth is that the Protestant Americans never would have listened to a Catholic priest's opinions on this issue… or maybe Latour didn't actually care that much.
Resolution (Denouement)
Knock Knock, It's Death
In the final paragraph of the book, Latour finally dies from his illness. Mexicans and American Catholics from all around gather in the big Cathedral that Latour built and honor his memory. And that's that. We knew this was coming; we read the title.