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As Count Franchi, head of one of Corsica's leading families, anxiously awaits the birth of his heir, his enemy, the treacherous Baron Colonna, is delighted that the occasion has brought all of the Franchis together under one roof, making them easy targets.  After Dr.  Enrico Paoli informs Franchi that his wife his given birth to Siamese twins, the Colonna clan storms the castle, killing everyone except Dr. Paoli and the servant Lorenzo, who escape with the infants and take refuge with the Franchis' friends, Monsieur and Madame Dupre.  Dr. Paoli then performs surgery to separate the twins, whom he baptizes Mario and Lucien.  The Dupres take Mario to Paris and rear him as their son, while Lorenzo takes Lucien to live with him in the forest.

Twenty years later, Lucien has grown up to become the leader of a gang of bandits, whereas Mario enjoys a life of wealth and culture in Paris.  At the opera one night, Mario becomes infatuated with Isabelle Gravini, a beautiful Corsican countess, and defends her from the unwanted advances of a marquis.  As Mario fights in Paris, Lucien tosses and turns in his bed in Corsica, grabbing his shoulder in pain when Mario is wounded.  On the eve of the twins' twenty-first birthday, Dr. Paoli reunites Lucien and Mario at their parents' graves, telling them the story of their family, and the brothers vow vengeance against Colonna.

Meanwhile, Count Gravini has just refused Colonna's request for his daughter Isabelle's hand in marriage when word arrives that two of Colonna's cousins were killed, in two different locations, by identical bandits.  The following week, having had Gravini poisoned, Colonna sets off to court Isabelle, accompanied by his cousin and aide, Tomasso.  Mario appears at Isabelle's window and promises to rescue her from Colonna, and that night, he and Lorenzo take her to their hideout.  Lucien, who immediately falls in love with Isabelle, seeks out Dr. Paoli and confesses his frustration at living a life that is merely a reflection of his brother's.  The doctor is then questioned by Colonna and Tomasso, who suspect that the Franchi twins are still alive.

The next day, after Isabelle rejects his advances, Lucien admits his love for her to Mario, and the brothers fight.  Isabelle flees, but Colonna's men intercept her, and Tomasso sends the brothers a message by carrier pigeon that Isabelle needs their help.  When Lucien refuses to let his men intervene, Mario goes to Colonna alone, posing as a Parisian jeweler with a selection of betrothal gifts.  At the baron's ball that evening, Mario tells Isabelle that Colonna's jealous mistress, Maria, has arranged for their escape.  However, Mario is recognized and imprisoned in Colonna's dungeon, where, after summoning Dr. Paoli, Colonna and Tomasso attempt to flog him into revealing Lucien's whereabouts.  When Mario passes out, Dr. Paoli administers a potion that makes him appear to be dead.  Lucien, sensing his brother's demise, rouses his men for an attack on Colonna's estate.  Dr. Paoli takes Mario home and revives him just as Lucien shoots Tomasso and is himself mortally wounded.  Suddenly, to Colonna's amazement, Mario appears and kills him, avenging his family.  After making peace with his dying brother, Mario goes to Isabelle's side.