A long line of prisoners winds over the snow-covered Russian steppes toward the train which is to carry the unfortunates to Siberia. A band of revolutionists, bent on freeing their brothers from the living death, attack the Cossack guard and in the excitement several prisoners escape. Turov, Prefect of Police, learns of the attack and orders the whole district raided that he may punish the perpetrators of the attack. In their crude home live Sasha and his daughters, Darya and Katerina. Suddenly the still air is shattered with the blood-curdling yells of the raiding Cossacks. Little Darya is quickly hidden, but Sasha and Katerina are led before Turov. The father is sent to Siberia. Soon afterward Katerina, robbed of life and honor, creeps back to the little settlement to die, carrying with her the Cossack knout with which she has been flogged. Over her sister's body, Darya swears revenge and keeps the Cossack's whip as a reminder of her vow. Then follows a story of action and power, telling how Darya becomes the favorite dancer of the imperial Ballet; how she brings the bloodthirsty Turov to her feet and finally accomplishes her revenge; how, at last, she listens to the pleadings of Sergius, a revolutionist and master of the ballet, and how the two of them make their way out of Russia and across the ocean to the great land of liberty and opportunity.
—Moving Picture World synopsis