The Flame of New Orleans

Two fishermen discover a wedding dress floating on the Mississippi River, igniting the legend of Claire Ledux. The locals assume she disappeared and died by suicide on her wedding day in 1840. This finding sets the stage for the later revelation of the real events.

Claire arrives in New Orleans with the ambition to marry the wealthy banker Charles Giraud. At the opera, she fakes fainting to force his rescue and secure his interest. Charles dispatches his valet to Claire through her maid Clementine to arrange a meeting.

Claire's plan to stage a dramatic rescue backfires when her carriage hits a monkey belonging to riverboat captain Robert Latour. Clementine mistakenly interprets the scene and orders the driver to continue, denying Latour the chance to intervene. Latour tips the carriage over, leaving Claire and Charles separated and fueling Latour's resentment.

In the aftermath, Charles swears to avenge Latour's insolence and vows to guard Claire every night. He becomes fixated on her safety and prospects, determined to win her hand.

At a Mardi Gras festivity, Claire spots Latour in the crowd and points him out to Charles. Charles challenges Latour to a duel, with Latour choosing knives as his weapon. Claire steps in and interrupts, claiming she misidentified Latour, ending the immediate confrontation.

Latour invites Claire to a dinner aboard his riverboat, borrowing money to pay for the feast. Charles rushes in with a marriage proposal, hoping to secure Claire's hand. Claire accepts Charles's proposal and privately cancels the dinner with Latour via her maid.

Robert, fearing Claire is ill and needs help, goes to her house and spies Charles through a window, realizing the true reason for her rejection. This sight confirms the tension between Claire, Robert, and Charles and sets up the emotional conflict to come.

Two days before the wedding, Charles throws a party in Claire's honor. A Russian guest, Zolotov, tells stories about Claire that reach Charles and Bellows, prompting Charles to issue a challenge. Zolotov refuses the duel, suggesting the girl he knew could fake fainting, and Claire faints during the gathering, being carried away.

The next day, Charles visits Claire to end their engagement and is confronted by Lili, who is actually Claire in disguise. Charles agrees to meet Lili that night at the Oyster Bed Café, bringing Zolotov and Bellows to the restaurant in tow.

Lili leaves town after the encounter, but first meets Robert Latour, who confesses his love for Claire. Charles offers to settle Robert's loan if he takes Lili out of New Orleans, and Robert agrees to the arrangement. The web of secrets tightens around Claire, Robert, and Charles.

The wedding takes place as planned, but when Claire sees Robert among the guests, she realizes her true love for him. She fakes fainting again amid the chaos and then disappears with Robert. In the escape, she sails away on his boat and throws her wedding dress into the Mississippi.