William F. Adler

After opening scenes showing volcanoes of Java, an underground river, waterfalls, cloud effects, a coral island, the Ghost Rocks of Buru, and a tiger hunt in Siam, documentary footage of the cannibal tribes of New Guinea is framed by a fictional narrative in which the scientific expedition is shipwrecked along the southern New Guinea coast in the land of the Kia Kia headhunters, thus affording the crew the opportunity to film the tribal customs of these cannibals.

Franklyn Starr, a talented and wealthy young musician, suffers a double misfortune in the sudden loss of his hearing and in the death of his Mother to whom he is deeply attached. He loses his generous, joyous nature and transforms into a gloomy and despondent misanthrope.

Captain Markham charters the boat of the evil Captain Blackton to search for a treasure he once buried on a South Sea island. Accompanying him are his daughter, Lois, and first mate Steve Maitland. They arrive at the island in time to witness a native ceremony of choosing the Fire Bride for sacrifice to the gods. Blackton accompanies Markham to the island to search for the gold, kills him when they find it, and reports to Lois and Steve that they were attacked by natives. Blackton goes ashore to bury Markham but incurs the natives' wrath when he dishonors Atel, the Fire Bride. Steve warns Blackton but, when he learns that the villain caused the death of his sister, helps the natives subdue him.

Lt. Col. Anstruther vies for the attention of Muriel Mannering with Major Bingham. The latter tricks Anstruther into believing that the girl loves Bingham, when in reality she has refused the major's proposal of marriage. When Anstruther saves Bingham's life during the Boer war, the deceitful major finally tells the truth.