Afterashortsplitprologueshowingrichesastherootofevilinancientandmoderntimes,thefilmsettlesinto1914France,wheretheOrientExpressisabouttobewreckedwhenabridgewashesout.AmongthoseonboardareAlandTravis,AmericanswhoaretravelingEuropespendingTravis'money,andMarie,aGermangirl.TheboyssaveMarieafterthewreckandTravisfallsinlovewithher.WhenWorldWarIbreaksoutAlwantstoenlist,butTraviscan't,feelingloyaltoMarie,aGerman.By1917Alhasenlisted,andTravisfollowshimshortlyaftermarryingMarie.AccusedofbeingaGermanspybyaRussianagent,sheissentencedtodiebutisrecognizedbyTravis,whoispartofthefiringsquad.Thetowntheyareinisshelledandtheyarealltrappedunderground,duringwhichaministermakesalengthyparalleltoancienttimeswhentheKingofAkkadpersecutedhissubjectsanddefiedJehovah,whofinallysendsafloodtowipeoutmankind,exceptforNoahandhisfamily,whomhehasinstructedtobuildanarkandfillitwithtwoofeverycreatureonearth.