A beggar and a singer are in love with the same woman.

In a remote village in Madagascar, a person is presumed dead under mysterious circumstances. Based on the novel of the same name, this movie explores the dark secrets hidden within the community.

Paris, under the reign of King Louis-Philippe. Jean, a rag-and-bone man, witnesses a murder. The victim begs him to adopt little girl Marie Didier. 20 years later, in 1846, she has grown into a beautiful young lady and works as a seamstress. One night, she is taken to a party where she is insulted by the nasty Baron Hoffmann because she was wearing the dress she had made for his daughter. Dashing Henri de Berville takes her defense.

Diaz de Toledo, a South American refugee, finds a job in a luxury hotel with a cosmopolitan clientèle. . There he makes friends with the Parkers, a fabulously rich family and falls in love with Chela, the daughter. Unfortunately, the young woman is seduced by an adventurer, Lord Hampton, who elopes her. When she realizes who Hampton actually is, Chela asks Diaz for help. He does come to her rescue but while defending her he gets badly hurt by Hampton. Some time later, Diaz and Chela present a living target number in a night club. Hampton, who has not said his last word, resurfaces.