As described in a film magazine,[2] after a long sea voyage, Larry Smith (Farnum) comes home to find his sister (Bower) dead, the victim of some unknown person.

Shortly after his mother (Drew) dies of a broken heart, Smith sets sail with a determination to wreck vengeance upon the murderer.

At a South Sea port Smith meets Violet North (Carmen), known as the Painted Lady.

Smith falls in love with her and proposes, but she will not marry him because of her past, and the next day sails away with the rest of her party.

When a storm rises and Violet, aboard a yacht, is tossed onto the island occupied by Smith.