Hans Albers, in 1939 Germany’s most popular male actor, plays the rough-and-tumble hero. The action takes place in Canada in 1905 where an engineer, Oliver Monstuart, is working to construct a new water supply system despite repeated attempts at sabotage. But again, the explosive charge is too large and thus, further construction is forestalled again. When Montstuart confronts foreman Westbrook, the foreman threatens him with a knife. In self-defense, Montstuart shoots him. Now, he has to flee. The climax finds Montstuart struggling to close the leak to prevent an imminent explosion, at the cost of his own life.