Plot

Railway construction in Africa faces challenges from man-eating lions. A surveyor and doctor develop romance amidst hardships endured by white settlers braving authentic African landscapes at turn of 20th century.

An adventure story dealing with the building of a railway in Africa at the turn of the century. It tells of a group of white people and the many difficulties that beset them, including that of two man-eating lions. John Bentley, as a surveyor and Zena Marshall, who plays the role of a doctor, provide the slight romance. Well photographed in authentic African backgrounds.—Anonymous

Hawker is an experienced Englishman working in East Africa. He meets up with an old friend, a priest named Father Dowling, after a long absence. They are in Kenya, and Dowling is setting up a missionary station in a remote area. Father Dowling is anxious to bring about the construction of a railway to open up the interior. Hawker is sceptical about the practicality of this, but is talked into it. The details of how this is funded are not dealt with in the film. Elizabeth, an English Doctor comes to Hawker and asks to be taken by him to the remote missionary station run by Father Dowling. Hawker says it is impossible for a woman to manage in the bush and is dismissive and contemptuous, but Elizabeth expresses her determination to go, and Hawker is talked into taking her. They go and Elizabeth is more resilient than Hawker expected, and he apologises. They reach Dowling's missionary successfully. Indian workers are brought in to deal with the railway construction and progress with the railway is rapid. However during the work lions become interested in the encampment, and the wife of an Indian worker is mauled by one of the lions. The lions remain in the area and pose an ongoing threat. As the railway construction is largely complete, Hawker's thoughts turn to proposing marriage with Elizabeth, but she refuses, considering her medical work with local people far more important. Meanwhile the lions are still nosing round the missionary and eventually one attacks and injures Salim, a Kenyan man. Salim says he is is certain the lion will come back; it is essential to kill the lion, described as a man-eater, and Salim bravely volunteers to be a decoy to lure the lion in, so that Hawker and his friends can kill the rogue lion. Salim waits in the open, posing as an injured man. The ruse is successful, although the actual attack and killing of the lion are not clearly portrayed, but the film ends with everyone smiling and looking happy, and Hawker embraces and kisses Elizabeth.