Pierre Birabeau, son of the general of all French troops in Morocco, is secretly sympathetic to the local Riffs. Disguising himself in a red costume, he leads the Moroccans against his own countrymen, but at the garrison he pretends to be a weakly simpleton. His behavior with his fellow Frenchmen does not help further his desire for romance with the beautiful Margot. She prefers dashing, but fickle, Captain Paul Fontaine. Pierre has no choice but to go to Margot in his other identity, the notorious Red Shadow, and carry her off to his desert camp. Complications arise when Azuri, a dancing girl, reveals the camp's location to the French.