Melanie Landry, a beautiful Southern belle, seeks to save her father from disgrace at the hands of Henry Melon, a Northern official. Melon, who has been sent to examine Richard Landry's government accounts, insults Landry, but his insults meet with retaliation by the Night Riders, a group headed by Chester Wallace. Chester's brother Bob, recently graduated from West Point, is in love with Melanie. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Richmond is evacuated and Melanie, her father, and the Wallace and Dackin children are captured by Colonel Melon as they attempt to leave the city. Melon has not forgotten his humiliation, and Melanie, in order to save her friends and allow them to deliver the dispatches which they are carrying, sacrifices herself to the Yankee. She fends him off by throwing red pepper in his eyes, and is then rescued from dishonor by her sweetheart Bob.