Plot

After the death of Princess Arbassoff, Lisza Tapenko, a governess in the household of Prince Arbassoff, fills her place in everything but name. When the prince refuses to marry her because of the difference in their social positions, Lisza's former lover, Vassya, urges her to join the cause of the revolution. Smarting under the prince's refusal, she does so and leaves for Switzerland, the headquarters of the revolutionaries. The prince eventually yields to his son's pleas for Lisza's return and agrees to make her his wife. As Princess Arbassoff, Lisza still continues her activities with the revolutionaries, assassinating government officials and leaving a red rose on each of her victims. Torn between her love for the prince and her love of Russia when the revolutionaries order her to slay her husband, Lisza's devotion to the cause triumphs and she dynamites her house, meeting her death along with the prince's.—Pamela Short

Lisza Tapenko is a daughter of the common people. The advantage of a university education enables her to gain employment as governess in the home of Prince Arbassoff. On the death of his wife the Prince turns to Lisza and pleads that he loves her. To escape the prince's importunities she seeks refuge in Switzerland. In Switzerland she falls in with a group of revolutionists. Yielding to her fascination for a young Russian known as "The Firebrand" she joins the band and agrees to do her part towards ridding her oppressed land of its haughty rulers. As Lisza kills enemy after enemy of her people she commemorates each deed with a red rose.—Moving Picture World synopsis