While his daughter, Consuelo, is visiting the United States, Emanuel García, the Mayor of Alcorta in the Argentine, arranges for her marriage to Juan Martin, in return for Martin's financial assistance. On her return, Consuelo, who is in love with Philip Sears, an American engineer working in Argentina, refuses Juan but gives no reason. Juan is furious with outraged pride and soon kills Rafael Cornejo, the son of a senator, when he flirts with Consuelo. The people of Alcorta hold her apparently willful refusal of Juan responsible for the killing; they tie her to a cart and beat her. When she is rescued by Philip, Consuelo, fearing that Juan will kill Philip if she betrays her lover for the American, feigns love for the touchy Latin and asks Philip to help them elope. Philip gallantly assists them to the border and returns to Alcorta; Consuelo tells Juan that she will still consent to marriage but that she can never love him, since she loves Philip instead. Not to be shamed by Philip's gallantry, Juan decides to step aside. He is returning to Alcorta to give himself up when he is shot by Senator Cornejo.