Plot

Sonia Smirnov, a Paris opera singer known as "The Black Butterfly", starts an affair with young Alan Hall. Hall, however, is still pining over his previous lover, a young peasant girl. Sonia--a former poor peasant girl herself--discovers a secret involving Hall and his former lover that neither knows about, but that involves an incident in Sonia's youth that could affect all of them.—frankfob2@yahoo.com

Sonia Smirnov is a beautiful and brilliant woman, singing the role of "The Black Butterfly" in the opera of the same name at the Folies Bergere, Paris. Lord Braislin, at a gathering of prominent men, is astounded by their enthusiastic toast to "The Black Butterfly," and Girard, of the army, arranges to introduce him. While the toast is being offered, Don Luis Maredo breaks in upon "The Black Butterfly" in her dressing room, declares his love, and is dismissed. He goes to a telephone, calls her up and when he hears her voice kills himself. Despite the tragedy Sonia appears as usual at the evening performance and then goes to her home, where she receives a letter from her daughter, Marie, who is in a convent. This letter leads to a reverie of her past life. As a Russian peasant girl she had met Gaston Duval, fallen in love and gone with him to Paris, where they went through a marriage ceremony which she afterward was led to believe was a mock one. Her love for Gaston turned to hatred, she became a wanderer, was taken in by some nuns, and there her child, Marie, was born. Leaving Marie in the convent, Sonia went to Paris and became an operatic star. Thus her reverie ends, and she gives way to silent grief. The next day Lady Constance Braislin breaks in upon Sonia and accuses her of having won the love of Lord Braislin. To show the accusation is unjust Sonia has Braislin meet her after the play while Lady Constance is in hiding, and the star tells him she wants their acquaintance to end. Braislin is then led away by Lady Constance. Meantime a romance breaks in upon the life of Marie, the convent girl. Alan Hall, automobiling near the convent, meets her and they fall in love. Alan, who is a friend of Girard and Lachaise, returns to Paris and there, in an Apache dance hall, meets Sonia, who is on a slumming tour with her manager, Bergere. Sonia falls in love with him. He thinks of Marie and tells "The Black Butterfly" that he must leave Paris, but she, not knowing of his other love, dissuades him. Then Alan writes to Marie that he will not see her again, and the convent girl pens a note to Sonia that she intends ending her life. "The Black Butterfly," on receiving this, races to the convent, arriving there just as Marie is being dragged unconscious from a lake into which she has thrown herself. Embracing the girl, Sonia discovers a photograph of Alan, learns of Marie's love and returns to Paris and dismisses Alan. Then "The Black Butterfly" disappears. She next is seen as a nurse during the Battle of the Marne. Gaston Duval, Colonel in the French army, is at death's door. Blood transfusion is all that will save him. Physicians appeal to the nurses for a volunteer and Sonia steps forward and is accepted. When she sees and recognizes Duval she draws back in contempt. Then she exclaims, "Yes, I will volunteer, even though I despise him. I will do it for the glory of France." After the operation Alan appears, tells Sonia he has married Marie. "The Black Butterfly" tells him she is Marie's mother and that Duval is her father. Alan insists that she confront Duval. She does, and the Colonel greets her with great emotion. "My only love," he exclaims, "my wife, for such you are. We were really married. But the letter you received was stolen by a jealous woman who wanted to marry me. Since then I have searched all over for you. Will you forgive me?" Sonia embraces him, and then they make preparations to join Marie.—Moving Picture World synopsis