Tom Johnson is a smuggler with a reputation for escaping imprisonment. During the Napoleonic war, the British government give him a pardon and employ him. But now the war is over. Tom needs a job. Returning to London he meets up with his old flame, Nancy. The British have incarcerated Napoleon on the remote island of St Helena. Approached by the French to aid in Napoleon's escape, Tom has choices to make. Will he stay with Nancy, or will he risk helping the French?