Flower of Night plot
In 1856, California, Don Geraldo y Villalon, a descendant of Spanish nobles, has the Flor de Noche gold mine stripped by dishonest Americans. His daughter, Carlota, falls in love with John Basset, the new assistant superintendent of the mine, and goes to a dance, against her father's wishes, to be near him. Mine superintendent Derck Bylandt, who has been drinking heavily, dies of a heart attack when he tries to force Carlota to dance with him. Basset, disgusted by the scene, ignores her. She confesses to her father that she has brought shame on the Villalon name, and he commits suicide. She then goes to San Francisco and becomes a dance hall girl.