Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the King's brother and successor to the British throne, is determined to take a short cut to the crown.  First, he arranges for John Wyatt, who is in love with Lady Alice Barton and is a cousin of Queen Elizabeth, to be exiled to France.  Next, he has the weakling King Henry VI slain by Mord, the court executioner.

With the aid of Mord, he also puts to death the Duke of Clarence, who stands in his way to the throne.  Unaware of his brother's treachery, King Edward IV, on his deathbed, names Richard as protector for the boy king Edward and his brother.

To prevent Richard's mad ascension to the throne, Wyatt returns to England and steals the royal treasure, but before he can bestow it upon Richard's rival, Henry Tudor, Wyatt is caught and imprisoned.  With the help of the Queen and Alice, John escapes with the treasure to France and Henry Tudor.

In revenge, Richard has Mord murder the young ruler and his brother.  Richard's reign of terror is ended, however, when Henry Tudor returns triumphantly to France with his troops and slays both the maniacal Richard and Mord, his minister of death.