Eben Stone, mate on the brig Ellen B, takes over as master after the first mate is murdered and Captain Brewster dies. The Reverend Obadiah Harkness and his daughter Tabby are passengers, and Eben falls in love with her, and she with him. When Bluey leads the crew to mutiny and a fire breaks out in the hold, Eben says he must deal with a fire below and the Devil above and he goes into the hold to save the ship. Bluey tries to gain control of the ship, but The Reverend Harkness and Tabby, with the faithful Chips, the ship's carpenter, save both Eben and the ship.