- While on vacation from college, William Bankinton is shipwrecked. His mind a blank, he is picked up by a derelict ship upon which there are only a lion and a stowaway named Broot. After Broot commits suicide, Bankinton and the lion are cast adrift upon the shores of Africa where they exist in a primitive state for several months. One day, when Nakhia, the daughter of the Bedouin chief Ali-Es Hadji is out riding, she is beset by danger. Bankinton comes to her rescue and gradually he and the girl fall in love. Ben Saada, the bandit chief, desires Nakhia, and tries to kidnap her. The lion and Bankinton once again come to her defense, and in the ensuing fight, Bankinton is struck on the head and his memory is restored. He then proposes to Nakhia, and the couple set sail to America where they are reunited with Bankinton's family.
- James Bankinton, a millionaire, consents to his only son, William, making a trip to Africa. The boy takes passage with Captain Tagst. They pass a sailing vessel carrying a caged lion to America. In the hold is a stowaway named Broot, and the pipe he smokes starts fire. Knowing there is a consignment of powder the captain and crew abandon the ship. The stowaway extinguishes the blaze and discovers the lion. Captain Tagst's ship is wrecked and William is left alone on a raft. The stowaway rescues the lad. Fright and exposure have robbed him of his memory. Time passes and the lad has made friends with the lion, for both are kicked and cuffed by Broot, the stowaway. Later the lion escapes and Broot springs overboard. In after years the lad and the lion continue comrades in their lair near the desert. Nearby lies a little Arab village where Sheik Ali-Es Hadji rules with his daughter, Nakhla, who is self-willed, self-assertive, high spirited. Ben Saada, the arrogant chief of a band of brigands, asks for Nakhla to be his wife. "Give me time to think, oh father. I am not yet sure that I love Ben Saada," exclaims Nakhla. Trembling with rage, the brigand bows in obedience to the girl's decision. The lad and the lion discover an antelope. Saada, returning from his mission, also sees the antelope and kills it. His men, seeing a monstrous lion with a man standing beside it, flee and the lad claims the antelope. Returning to the village, Saada tells the Sheik that he has seen a white devil with a lion as his companion. The Sheik, and Nakhla, his daughter, laugh, arousing the man to fury. Nakhla rides one morning into the hills and comes to a waterfall. The lad and the lion are near, and Nakhla's horse, scenting the lion, runs away. The girl sees the man and the beast and also endeavors to escape. Four brigands see the girl and attack her. The lad sends the lion to her rescue. The brigands flee, leaving one of their band slain. The lion approaches the cowering girl and the lad assures her that she will not be harmed. The man and the maid are mutually attracted to each other. At the suggestion of Nakhla, the lad puts on the garments of the slain Arab. When Nakhla's horse returns to the village the Sheik is about to send a party to search for his daughter, when the girl returns and tells her father of her experience. Nakhla and the lad meet frequently. The princess soon learns to love this handsome stranger, and the lad thinks that never before has he seen anyone so beautiful. Saada informs the Sheik, "the white dog is following in the footsteps of the beauteous one." Then the Sheik forbids his daughter to go again into the desert. Saada tells the lad the girl has married one of her own tribe. The grief-stricken lad again done his animal skins. Marie, daughter of Colonel Vivier, commander of the French garrison, is spending the day in the hills when the lion encounters them. Arab servants leave the girl to her fate. The lad approaches, calms her fears and escorts her home. Colonel Vivier, grateful to the lad, makes him a dragoman. The Colonel visits the Arab village and the lad accompanies him. In the village he again sees Nakhla, and his love for her is intensified. Nakhla, seeing the lad with Marie, believes that he has forgotten her. Saada decides finally to abduct her and force her into a marriage. The plot partially succeeds. He takes the girl to his camp, sending one of his servants with an ultimatum to the Sheik. The Sheik summons the soldiers and vows he will rescue his daughter. The lad, with his lion, also institutes a search and meets Ben Saada. The bandit strikes the lad a fierce blow on the head. The lion, seeing his beloved master attacked, springs upon Saada and kills him. The blow revives the lad's memory. He realizes that he is William Bankinton, son of the millionaire. He does not forget his love for Nakhla, however, and he takes the beautiful girl into his arms.
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