Tom and Tod Pembroke are the twin sons of Jefferson Pembroke, a Virginia Bishop, and are divinity-school students. Tom is serious and Tod carefree and adventurous, and both are in love with Ruth Featherstone. Tod is expelled from the school and, seeing that Ruth loves Tom, he sets sail for China. Five years later, Tom, a missionary, and his bride Ruth are on the way to establish a mission at Paroa, in the Java Sea. En route, Tom catches island-fever, and their vessel is captured by a pirate calling himself Captain Blaze Devine.
