Promised in marriage to wealthy Lot Gordon , Scottish lassie Madelon MacTavish prefers Lot's poor relation Burr Gordon. The wisdom of her choice is proven later on, when a vengeful Lot tries to rape the girl.

Mahlee and Blanche Sackville are half-sisters, Blanche the daughter of an Englishman and his wife, Mahlee of the Englishman and his Chinese mistress. Mahlee rejects her people and attempts to find a life for herself among the Europeans. But she finds the color line impossible to pass and returns to lead her Chinese people in rebellion.