Angela Chiaromonte is the daughter of a wealthy Italian prince who is killed in a fall from his horse. Though Angela stands to inherit half of a large estate, her older half-sister burns the will and thus inherits everything herself, throwing Angela into poverty. Fortunately, Angela is engaged to marry dashing Captain Giovanni Severi - but he soon is captured by Arabs while on an expedition to Africa. Believing him dead, Angela, dedicating her life to his memory, becomes a nun, unaware that her lover has escaped his captors and is returning to Italy. The dramatic climax takes place against a backdrop of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Lillian Gish
as Angela Chiaromonte
Ronald Colman
as Capt. Giovanni Severi
Gail Kane
as Marchesa di Mola
J. Barney Sherry
as Monsignor Saracinesca
Charles Lane
as Prince Chiaromonte
Juliette La Violette
as Madame Bernard
Gustavo Serena
as Prof. Ugo Severi
Alfredo Bertone
as Filmore Durand
Roman Ibanez
as Count del Ferice
Alfredo Martinelli
as Alfredo del Ferice
Ida Carloni Talli
as Mother Superior
Giovanni Viccola
as Gen. Mazzini
