When Captain Nathaniel Somers is killed during an attack by thugs, his loyal first mate Pike promises to care for the captain's son Dick. Pike, aware that Dick has squandered his life on having a good time, sequesters the wastrel aboard The Elsinore and sets sail. Mellaire, one of the thugs responsible for the captain's death, is also on board, as is Margaret West, whom all three men love. The crew is a bad lot, and during a heavy storm, Mellaire, with his accomplice, The Rat, start a mutiny. In the battle on deck, Pike fights the rebellious sailors single-handedly until helped by Dick, whose experiences have transformed him into a man. Mellaire and The Rat are washed overboard and Pike, now severely injured, gives both command of the ship and Margaret's hand to Dick.—AFI