A strikingly strong drama of medieval age. Political reverses cause the old colonel to depart in haste, leaving a beautiful villa to be confiscated by the government. The riches, contained in an iron casket, are entrusted to a madman, roaming on the cliffs, who with singularly marked cleverness manages to secrete the casket. Years pass, conditions are changed, and as a token of honor and respect for valorous deeds performed in the defense of the country the property is restored to the children of the colonel. The madman succeeded in retaining his secret, and when he meets and recognizes the children, now mature in age, he brings forth and returns to them the riches entrusted to him.