Ilda Barosky, una jueva el pare de la qual va ser assassinat per soldats russos, és una estudiant de violí enamorada d'Alexis Nazimoff, un fill de l'aristocràcia russa. Quan el pare d'Alexis acorda un matrimoni de conveniència entre el seu fill i Olga Karischeff, la filla de l'ambiciós ministre de la policia, Ilda, li va demanar que interpretés "Déu salvi el tsar" a la celebració del compromís, es nega i és assotada davant de tota l'assemblea. .

Ilda Barosky, a Jewess whose father was killed by Russian soldiers, is a violin student in love with Alexis Nazimoff, son of the Russian aristocracy. Alexis' father arranges a marriage of convenience between Alexis and Olga Karischeff, the daughter of the ambitious minister of police and attempts to shame Ilda at the betrothal celebration. Defiant, Ilda is whipped before the entire assembly. Alexis rushes in to rescue her and terminates his engagement to Olga. In retaliation, Karischeff sentences both Ilda and Alexis to ten years in Siberia as his last official act. The couple attempt to escape their Siberian captivity, are caught and face a firing squad until Count Nazimoff, who has assumed Karischeff's position as minister of police, arrives with a pardon. The couple return home, and the penitent count finally grants them his blessings.