In 1865, Señora Stevens and her American daughter Maria leave the U.S. to return to Stevens' homeland of Mexico along with their servant Caesar. They hope to live peacefully under
Emperor Maximilian. Maria's father and brother were killed fighting on opposite sides of the
Civil War. Maria, her mother and Caesar are kidnapped by the bandit Ignacio "Nacho" López as soon as they arrive in Mexico. Señora Stevens fakes a collapse, which allows Caesar to attack Lopez and the women to escape. They arrive at the estate of Don Pedro Álvarez, the son of an old friend of Señora Stevens and an ally of
Benito Juárez, who is leading the fight against Maximilian. Pedro sends Señora Stevens to
Taxco but keeps Maria hostage until he receives a load of silver that he can trade for supplies. Eventually the silver arrives, along with Maria's maid Lupe, who gives her a note from Don Navarro asking her to bring Pedro with her when she is released. Pedro agrees to accompany her to Taxco. On the way, he shows Maria some of the suffering caused under Maximilian and she becomes more sympathetic to his plight. Navarro's men attack Pedro but are ambushed by Pedro's troops and he escapes. In Taxco, Navarro invites Maria to a ball. On the way, Pedro abducts Maria briefly, but Navarro recaptures her. Maria meets Maximilian and Carlotta and asks them to help the poor. Lupe tells Maria that her mother has died. The empress secretly instructs her guards to send men to Taxco to hang Pedro so that Maria will marry Navarro, who will capture the Stevens' money. Pedro is arrested at Señora Stevens' funeral. He escapes, but Navarro orders the detonation of explosives in the cavern to catch them, threatening the lives of numerous mine workers. Pedro is about to be hanged when peasants arrive to rescue him, and the revolution against Maximilian begins. ==Cast==