On a beach in southern Italy, Gianna Russelli practices her dancing with her devoted brother Russino, looking forward to the day when she will begin formal dance studies. One day the beautiful Countess Michetti comes to the village and engages in a flirtation with Russino, but when her former lover, Prince Viscomte, arrives with his closest friend, Count Paul Trovelli, the countess resumes her affair with the prince. Finding them together, Russino attacks the prince, who stabs the boy and flees, just as the count enters the room. Gianna sees Trovelli standing over her brother's body and makes a vow to ruin and then kill the count. As a famous dancer in Milan, she later charms the count into falling in love with her, spends all of his money, and is about to kill him when she realizes that she loves him. Gianna's agony turns to joy, however, when, with news of the prince's death, the count finally reveals that his friend committed the crime.—AFI