In this silent classic, Sergius Karamzin (Erich von Stroheim) is a con artist who pretends to be a count in order to charm and swindle naïve women for money. He lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with his cousins, "princesses" Olga (Maude George) and Vera (Mae Busch), who are in on his scams. When Karamzin meets American diplomat Andrew Hughes (Rudolph Christians), the count immediately takes aim at his wife, Helen (Miss DuPont). But Karamzin soon finds he has double-crossed too many women.