Elderly prophet Takeo,, explains a legend to the people of his Japanese village that says that the first male descendant of samurai Lord Yamaki's family is cursed by the gods. Thus, if Yamaki's daughter Toya San marries, the long inactive volcano near their village will erupt. When an American vessel is shipwrecked near the village, sailor Tom Wilson is saved by Yamako. Tom, who falls in love with Toya San, tells the people about the new god more powerful than Buddha and convinces her to marry him. Takeo arrives at the American mission too late to stop the marriage and the volcano erupts. Yamaki and many others are killed, but Tom and Toya San escape to an American ship anchored at the harbor.