- Lewis Dumont, a Northern officer in the American Civil War, works undercover behind Confederate lines in an attempt to lead Southern forces away from an area in which a Northern attack is planned. But Dumont falls in love with a Southern girl and when she proves useful to his plan, his conscience begins to tear at him.—Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
- During the Civil War, the Northern forces devise a plan to capture Richmond. Captain Lewis Dumont of the Union army is going to enter Richmond in disguise. He will take a position as a telegraph operator in the Confederate War Office. His plan is to send orders to the rebels to move their forces, which will weaken their defense and enable the Union troops to overtake the city. Dressed as a Confederate Captain and calling himself Thorne, Dumont sets off for Richmond. Along the way, he saves the life of Howard Varney, a wounded Southern officer. The grateful officer takes Dumont to meet his family. Varney introduces Dumont to his sister Edith, and the two fall in love.
Benton Arrelsford, who has a romantic interest in Edith, is the head of the Confederate Secret Service. He is both jealous and suspicious of Dumont. Arrelsford sends orders for Dumont to leave Richmond, but Edith intercedes, and Dumont is placed in charge of the War Telegraph Office. Dumont's brother Henry allows himself to be captured so that he can give the word to his brother when the false orders are to be sent to the Southern troops. Arrelsford allows Henry to escape, and tracks him to the Varney mansion, where Henry and Lewis come face to face. Henry whispers to Lewis' brother to shoot him, to throw Arrelsford off track. When Lewis refuses, Henry shoots himself to make it appear his brother has apprehended him. Henry dies from his gunshot wound, which clears his brother to pass the false orders through the telegraph office.
Arrelsford finally convinces his superiors that Dumont is a spy. Dumont is arrested at the Varney mansion. He is court martialed, and sentenced to be shot. The Varneys intercede and Dumont's sentence is commuted to imprisonment. After the war ends, Dumont and Edith are united.
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