In a world of opposition, elvira, a puritan maiden, is in love with arturo, a royalist. Though her father initially opposes the match, he eventually agrees to their union. So far, so good andndash until their wedding day, when arturo discovers that a royalist prisoner needs help escaping and leaves elvira, causing her to believe he has abandoned her for another woman. Heartbroken, she descends into madness. When arturo, accused of treason, faces execution, the young coupleaposs happiness is further threatened... Can the lovers withstand the trials of war?