Captain Bellew commands a tugboat harboured off a Spanish village. The father of Josita, a village girl, tempts Bellew into a romantic interest in her, despite nearly five decades difference in their ages. He hopes the aging Bellew will not live long and will leave Josita well off. Meanwhile, Abel Hewson, a handsome English sailor, signs on to Bellew's crew. When Josita and Hewson fall in love, the stage is set for conflict. But greater conflict arrives when a sinking freighter carrying explosive cargo has to be salvaged and towed to port.
