Lord Crispin O'Neill, returning from Jamaica, is bringing an unusual gift for his intended bride, Pamela Courtney: a young French slave by the name of Peri. But when Pamela and Peri meet, the instant dislike they inspire in one another causes him to change his mind and instead present Peri to his sister.

But Peri, devoted in truly slavish fashion to the handsome lord who rescued her from a miserable future, cannot bear the idea of him marrying the shrewish and self-centred Pamela. However, she is both mischievous and resourceful, and lays a plan to ruin the engagement, enlisting the help of Crispin's cousin, Jerome Harcourt. He willingly co-operates, having an eye to making Peri his mistress ... Will Crispin at last admit his own feelings, and save Peri once more?