Concealed in a harem as a girl, war orphan Laertes grows to love his rescuer, Ottoman commander Hassan.

Concealed in a harem as a girl, war orphan Laertes grows to love his rescuer, Ottoman commander Hassan. When their relationship is discovered, Laertes kills a boy in a brawl and flees, and Hassan pretends to drown "Leila" as an adulteress. Laertes finds refuge with the rebels, until, two years later, they encounter Hassan's patrol.—Jono Podmore