A beggar in 18th century Spain is imprisoned by a cruel "marqués" after making inappropriate remarks at the nobleman's wedding feast. The beggar is forgotten, and survives another fifteen years. His sole human contact is with the jailer and his beautiful, mute daughter (Yvonne Romain). The aging, decrepit "marqués" makes advances on the jailer's daughter while she is cleaning his room. When she refuses him, the "marqués" has her thrown into the dungeon with the beggar. The beggar, driven mad by his long confinement, rapes her and then dies.