Whom the Gods Destroy plot
At the beginning of World War I, Irish rebels plan to exploit Britain's preoccupation with Germany. Sir Denis Esmond, an Irish leader, plans to fight the English, while his close friend Leslie St. George Leigh loses his sight fighting for England in the North Sea. Denis and Leslie are both in love with Mary O'Neil, an Irish girl, who refuses to choose between them until the Irish question is resolved. Mary allows Leslie to recuperate in her family's castle; when Irish rebels search for Denis, Leslie tries to convince him of the high price of rebellion. He succeeds, but just as Denis is about to address the rebels with an English flag, Mary replaces him with an Irish one, and the British ultimately fight the Irish and arrest Denis as a traitor.