Plot

A story of the First World War, told in semi-documentary style, focusing on the iniquities of the German war machine, and with its dramatic center the sinking by a German U-boat of the passenger liner Lusitania in 1915.

Rita Heriot is a French opera singer who becomes engaged to Harry Winslow wealthy American. The singer is also loved by Baron von Bergen, a Germa: diplomat, who is supposed to be a friend of Winslow's but is far less honorable in his intentions toward Rita. Returning to France with her mother to spend the summer at the little village where she was born, Rita is drawn into the vortex of the great war. She is caught by German troops sending messages to help her native land and is sentenced to be shot. Word is brought to Winslow that the order has been carried out. He hurries to France and enlists in the French service that he may do all in his power to avenge the murder of his sweetheart. Rita escapes execution by a miracle and succeeds in getting back to the United States. Here she meets the Baron again. When she tells him of an offer she has to sing in England he begs her not to sail on the Lusitania and assures her he knows it will never reach the other side. The sinking of the ship is lead up to with absorbing detail and the great horror is shown with realism. At the finish the lovers are united, after Winslow has displayed an entirely unexpected lack of confidence in the woman he is supposed to trust.—Moving Picture World synopsis

American Harry Winslow asked Rita Heriot, a French soprano, to marry him. Winslow tells a German acquaintance, Baron van Bergen, the news. Van Bergen has tried himself to win Rita, and Winslow and Van Bergen part in anger. When war breaks out, the Germans capture the village where Rita lives. Rita is jailed, but is later rescued by one of the guards. Rita makes it to the Dutch frontier and is eventually told that Harry was lost at the Battle of the Marne. After a singing engagement at the Metropolitan in New York, Rita decides to sail on the Lusitania. Van Bergen urges her not to go, warning her that the ship will be torpedoed. Rita does not believe the Germans would commit such an act, and sets sail. Van Bergen transmits his orders to a submarine and the Lusitania is hit. Rita is saved. When Van Bergen finds in her London, he tries to attack her in her boudoir. She strangles him, and to escape the memory, she decides to help out the army's wounded. She is reunited with Harry. America enters the war.