- Iris Champneys, forced into a marriage of convenience with the Earl of Lemister, attempts to recover some compromising letters for her sister Muriel, who has been seduced by a social parasite. Iris is thus caught by Lemister in a delicate situation, and he demands a divorce. Clement Gaunt, formerly employed by Lemister and in love with Iris, has become a ranch foreman in South Africa. He becomes entangled with Hannah, the rancher's wife, who shoots her husband, then places the blame on Clem when he refuses to run away with her. Seven years later, Gaunt--trying to escape the police--meets Iris, who is operating a tavern on the African caravan road. Iris, learning of his predicament, rides to Hannah Schriemann, telling her that Clem has been executed for her crime. When the police bring Clem to the house, Hannah--frightened by his "ghost"--confesses, and Iris and Clem find a way to happiness.—AFI
- Irish Adelaide Victoria Champneys, the nineteen-year-old daughter of the bankrupt Marquis Champneys, marries Richard, Earl of Lemister, to save her father from ruin. The Earl is over fifty, but Iris promises him she will be faithful, as long as he does not force her to give up her activities, such as hunting and gambling. Among the crowd gathered at the wedding is Clement Gaunt, who is headed for South Africa. As the crowd surges toward the married couple, Gaunt clears a passage to the waiting car. Iris thanks him and tosses him a lily from her bouquet. That evening, Gaunt sets out for South Africa.
Five years pass, and Iris, now Countess of Lemister, is one of the most popular women in England. She has remained faithful to the Earl, but he is constantly jealous. He has her spied upon constantly. At the end of the hunting season, Iris gives a party to announce the engagement of her sister Muriel to Sir Basil Deere. Muriel is marrying Basil for his money, although Iris believes it is for love. Meanwhile, Muriel has been carrying on an affair with Otis Yeardley, a penniless scoundrel. Iris invites Yeardley to the party, not knowing of the affair. Iris dances at the party, while her husband drinks and sulks. Later in the evening, as Iris is winning at the gambling table, she notices Muriel and Yeardley slip off together. Yeardley demands that Muriel get him five thousand pounds, threatening to expose their affair with incriminating letters if she refuses. Muriel comes to Iris, tells her the truth, and Iris promises to secure the letters without paying Yeardley. After everyone has retired for the evening, Iris goes to Yeardley's room to get the letters. Her maid informs the Earl, who hurries to Yeardley's room. Iris is just getting the letters when Yeardley awakens, and locks the door. The Earl pounds on the door, which Iris opens. He accuses her of infidelity, in front of all his guests. Iris says nothing, and the Earl orders her out of the house.
Her parents learn of the disgrace and close their door to her. Iris takes a map of the world, closes her eyes, and points to a place at random. Her finger lands on South Africa. "I will be the cat who walks by itself, in the wild, wet wood - and all places will be alike to me!" she exclaims.
Meanwhile, Clement Gaunt has become foreman of a great cattle ranch. His employer, Schreimann, does not know that his wife, Hannah, has fallen for Gaunt. One night while Gaunt is sitting outside his cabin by a fire, Hannah throws herself at him. Her husband finds the two together and springs at Gaunt. During the struggle, Hannah shoots and kills her husband. She then accuses Gaunt of the murder. With the South Africa police on his trail, Gaunt flees into the northern foothills, builds a shack, and isolates himself until the chase dies down.
A woman unknown to the locals opens a halfway house, which becomes a stopping point for the South African police. Jock McKinney, Chief of Police, becomes friendly with her. He asks the woman to marry him but she refuses. When he tries to kiss her, she slaps his face. When he makes a second attempt, she grabs his gun and makes him kiss each man in the room. McKinney admires her for her spirit and they become friends. There is speculation about her past, but she refuses to answer questions. She is, in fact, Iris.
After two years in isolation, Gaunt ventures into civilization for supplies. He sees a London newspaper, which carries an account of the Earl of Lemister's divorce from Iris. He recalls her wedding, and still carries the lily in his pocketbook. Gaunt is now determined to return to civilization and resume his life. He comes to the halfway house, and recognizes Iris. Mombo, who works at the house, is a former employee of Schreimann, and recognizes Gaunt as a wanted man. Mombo tells Iris, who tells him to notify the police, who are camped some miles away. After Mombo leaves, Iris attempts to detain Gaunt with a game of cards. Gaunt agrees, and eventually loses his money. Meanwhile, McKinney has gotten Iris' message and is headed back to the halfway house with his men. During the card game, Iris becomes curious and asks Gaunt who he is. Gaunt then tells her he was at her wedding, and produces the lifeless lily she had thrown to him. She asks him straight out if he killed Schreimann, and Gaunt swears he did not. Iris believes him and warns him he must go. She offers him some gold, but he refuses. She slips some into his pocketbook anyway.
Gaunt rides away. McKinney and his men arrive and Iris tells them she was unable to keep Gaunt there. She then sends them off on the wrong route. Gaunt discovers the gold in his pocketbook, and seized with anger, rides back to the halfway house. McKinney and his men are just leaving when they hear glass breaking, and see a bag of gold come flying through a window. McKinney and his men chase after Gaunt, capture him, and prepare for a hanging. Iris rides after them, and declares that Gaunt is innocent and must not be hanged. McKinney will not listen, but being a sportsman, he makes her a bargain. He and Iris will shoot at a bulls eye. If McKinney wins, Gaunt hangs. If Iris wins, he will give Gaunt twenty-four hours start - but Iris must promise to marry Gaunt. Iris agrees.
She wins the shooting contest, and a police parson who is present marries the pair. McKinney and his men ride away, while Iris and Gaunt head for the halfway house. She tells Gaunt to ride away for his life, but he refuses to go without her. Later, along the trail, Iris attempts to leave him, but Gaunt grabs her horse's bridle. As Iris whips her horse, the animal plunges down a ravine, with Gaunt tumbling after it. He is knocked unconscious. With darkness approaching, Irish collects wood and builds a fire. Then she sees jackals approaching. Knowing they will not attack a moving body, she begins to dance, and continues until all the jackals have left. Exhausted, she falls asleep next to Gaunt. Gradually, he revives and finds her beside him.
McKinney and his men find the pair. McKinney has a deathbed confession from Schreimann's wife, and tells Gaunt the good news. Gaunt awakens Iris to share his joy. As the pair embrace, McKinney mutters "never again will she walk by herself, that cat who walks alone!"
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content