Plot

American shipwreck near Taiwan leads to massacre by indigenous tribes, prompting collaboration with Chinese general for rescue mission. Survivors rely on interpreter amidst tribal and Chinese conflicts.

When an American merchant ship is wrecked off the southern coast of Formosa (Taiwan), all of the survivors including a woman are slaughtered by Seqalu tribesmen, members of the indigenous nation that is in control of the area. Unaware of the tragedy, Charles Le Gendre, U.S. consul at Amoy, China, sets out on a rescue mission to Formosa, only to find none of the crew is spared by the tribesmen. After a failed punitive expedition launched by the U.S. armed forces, Le Gendre turns to a Chinese general, who seeks to bring the tribal lands under Chinese rule by this opportunity, to orchestrate another expedition. Caught between the Seqalu nation, united under Chieftain Tokitok, and the marching Chinese troops, Formosan settlers on the tribal lands must take daring action to ensure their own survival. Yet, few could foresee that the key to avoiding this gathering storm lies with Butterfly, a seemingly inconsequential servant-interpreter to Le Gendre.—fuenping