In occupied Algeria, legionnaire Lieutenant Dubois seduces Zora, then leaves her with a child and his medal of honor. Zora is befriended by Achmed, a kind sheik, and when she is killed accidentally, Achmed raises her son, El Rabb, as his own. El Rabb and Bel Kahn, the sheik's own child, become best friends. As adults, they both fall in love with Anitra, who chooses Bel Kahn. Soon Dubois, now a general, returns to Algeria and lusts after Anitra whom he orders to his tent. Infuriated with the outrage, El Rabb and Bel Kahn lead a revolt for independence. Although their forces are decimated, the pair penetrate the general's headquarters where El Rabb fatally stabs Dubois. As he is dying, Dubois sees the medal of honor around El Rabb's neck and realizes that he is his son. Finally, the young Algerian awaits execution after trampling the medal in the dust.