In 1846 California, Lieutenant Nelson of the American army and Ysabel Hernandez, the daughter of a California don, fall in love. Warfare between the Americans and the Californians soon breaks out, however, and Ysabel puts on man's dress and joins Pico's Californian army, distinguishing herself by her horsemanship. After many shifts of fortune, the Americans are victorious in the final battle in Los Angeles, in which Nelson narrowly escapes killing Ysabel. Holliday, the treacherous Englishman whose deceptions helped to start the hostilities, kidnaps Ysabel and her brother's fiancée, but Nelson and several others come to the rescue and the lovers are united.—AFI