Madeleine does not care for Raoul, the officer her father intends for her to marry. Instead, she loves Lt. Andre Duport. Her father intends to send her back to Paris and put a stop to their affair. The jilted Raoul challenges Andre to an unusual duel--only one of the pistols will be loaded and each aimed just three inches from the heart. When the time comes to prove he's more than just words, Raoul proves to be a crafty coward.