In the public square of a Spanish City, vendors and peasants are walking about when a native dancer appears in their midst. A nobleman in black watches the dancer, and when she passes into her tambourine drops a large number of coins. The girl thanks the giver, who promises to take her before the king. The premise is kept, and shortly afterwards the girl appears before her ruler. The ladies of the court have failed to favorably impress the king, but the dancer is liberally paid and bidden to remain, while the others are dismissed. When alone with the girl the king makes desperate love to her. She spurns his attention and runs from the room. The king in anger calls four guards, who are sent in pursuit. She reaches her home and to her brother Pedro tells of her experience. The boy, for such he is, tries to protect his sister, but is beaten off by the guards, when Hero, a handsome adventurer in rags, enters and lends assistance, for which interference he is placed under arrest and dragged away. The girl leaves her brother, conceives a plan for her protector's release, and runs out. Meanwhile, Hero, confined in prison, is visited by Pedro. The guard enters with a warrant and reads that the prisoner is to be shot. The guards load their guns and leave the room. Pedro watches them depart, then removes the bullets from the shells and places the guns back in the racks. Shortly afterward the guards return, march the prisoner out and station him against the wall. When their guns are discharged the prisoner drops, presumably dead. The guards depart, when Pedro comes up, signals Hero and departs with him. The dancer during this time visits the king and pleads for Hero. She is told that her lover is to be shot. The king again endeavors to make love to her, and, being repulsed, orders her confined in the tower. Pedro and Hero watch the departure for the castle. The boy attracts the attention of the guard, while Hero climbs up the ivy covering the walls. In her prison above the girl endeavors to escape, the king again annoys her with his attentions, when Hero comes down the chimney, overpowers the king, dons his cloak, and as the guards enter in answer to their ruler's call for help points to the king and orders him removed. The guards do so in no gentle manner, while the girl and her lover leave triumphantly. When the king regains consciousness the guards remove the handkerchief from his face, and finding their mistake, fall to their knees and beg for mercy.