On board his trading schooner in the South Pacific, tough sea captain Black Pawl confronts his own son, who has grown up in his father's shadow and reflects only his dark side.

Sea rover, "Black" Pawl, returns from a cruise with his young son, "Red," to find that his wife has left him for another man. He tries to instill in his son a hatred for humanity resulting in an hostility between father and son so great that Black fears that his son may kill him. Years later, Black puts ashore at a South Sea Island, and Red is approached by a lovely young girl and a missionary, Reverend Poor, begging to be taken aboard. Red, his lust aroused, consents. When Dan Darrin, the second mate, also is attracted to Ruth, there ensues between Black and his son a fight during which the girl's locket reveals that she is Black's daughter. Black relates the story of his life to the missionary, who tries to instill in him a love for God.—Pamela Short