The scene of this story is laid in France during latter part of the Thirty Years' War, the main protagonists are Richelieu, Mazarin and Anne of Austria. The hero, Hector Campbell, is the orphaned son of a Scotch officer in the French Army. He gets the noticed by Marshal Turenne and by the Prince of Conde. He rises to the rank of Colonel and finally has to leave France, pursued by the deadly hatred of the Due de Beaufort, amongst others.