 In 1925, in Damascus, the patriotic rebels of Syria are fighting against the invader French forces. The powerful weapons smuggler Harry Smith (Humphrey Bogart) is an amoral dealer taking advantage of the situation. He meets in a restaurant, Violette (Märta Torén), the girl of the idealistic French Col. Feroud (Lee J. Cobb). Feroud is trying to make a deal with the rebel leader Emir Hassan (Onslow Stevens), and he forces Harry to be his liaison and arrange a meeting with Hassan.