The Royalist Count St. Pierre, concealed in the hovel of a faithful old family servant, manages to elude the Republican soldiers who are searching for him. Realizing, however, that his discovery and execution will only be a question of hours if he remains, he plans to escape to England with his betrothed, the Countess d’Avroi, Accordingly he dispatches the servant with a letter to the countess, begging her to set two candles in her window when she is alone. The peasant delivers the letter but on his return is intercepted by soldiers under the command of Citizen Bompard. Recognizing him as a servant of the count’s and knowing something of the attachment between St. Pierre and the countess, Bompard puts two and two together, and dragging the peasant before the countess commands her to give him the message that the old man has brought. The countess firmly refuses until Bompard begins to torture the old servant when she attempts to throw St. Pierre’s letter in the fire. Bompard intercepts her, reads the letter, and immediately sets the candles in the window. Stationing his soldiers outside the door he commands them to enter and shoot the count when he gives the word. Bompard himself stays within the room and makes love to the countess. At first maddened by the realization that she has lured her lover to death, she refuses the man’s advances furiously. Later, a dim plan forms itself in her mind and she treats the captivated Republican less coldly. Meanwhile St. Pierre has seen the welcome signal and has hastened to the château. Climbing up the ivy he enters the room and sternly regards the countess in Bompard’s embrace. Brokenhearted at her apparent faithlessness, the count walks slowly to the door behind which the soldiers are concealed. At the moment he opens the door, the countess springs from Bompard’s arms. The soldiers naturally mistaking him for the count and shoot and kill their leader. In the confusion that follows St. Pierre and the countess escape.