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Brawny William Farnum fights his way through this drama, based on a Saturday Evening Post story entitled "The Painted Lady," which was written by Larry Evans. First mate Luther Smith (Farnum) returns to his home port to discover that his sister (Lulu May Bower) has died after being raped. Not long after, his mother (Cora Drew) dies from grief. Smith swears revenge and ships out on a boat manned by Sutton, "the worst captain this side o' hell" (G. Raymond Nye). Smith doesn't realize yet that Sutton is the one who ravished his sister, but at sea, his brutalities become obvious. When the ship puts into port, Smith quits and he meets up with the yachting party of Lewis (A. Burt Wesner). Smith falls in love with Violet North, who is better known as "the painted lady" (Jewel Carmen). But Violet feels she isn't worthy of Smith's love and tells him so before she leaves. Logan, a sailor (Marc Robbins), tells Smith about Sutton's involvement with his sister, and Smith goes in search of him. Lewis' yachting party wrecks and Sutton rescues Violet. But she's not at all compliant and stabs him when he tries to have his way with her. In retaliation he takes her to an island and starts to auction her off to the natives. But Smith is there, and he and Sutton stage a fight to the death. Violet nurses Smith back to health and the two decide to forget the past and start life again together.