A young woman (Barbara Stanwyck) arrives in Shanghai to marry a missionary (Gavin Gordon). When the couple moves through a danger zone they are swept into the middle of a revolution. Stanwyck is captured by an infamous warlord (Nils Asther) who is fascinated by her and slowly attempts to seduce her. Unable to possess the one thing he desires most, Stanwyck, the warlord takes bitter tea, laced heavily with poison.
