Saragosse, Spain, was besieged by the French in 1809. The Spaniards were attending Thanksgiving mass in the ruins of the church when the enemy entered the town. A monk is just pronouncing the benediction when the gathering is stormed. After a short struggle, the survivors, including the monk, are led away, prisoners of war. The monk is tried by a court martial and sentenced to be shot. In vain the mother of the monk and the populace plead for the life of their spiritual father. The old lady is inconsolable over the son’s tragic death. Several years later conditions have changed and the commanding officer of the French party enters the home of the monk’s mother and seeks refuge from a pursuing party. She at first refuses him aid and as he is about to go reconsiders, and presents him with the gown of her dead son, thus enabling him to make his escape. Her act is rewarded by the satisfaction due to the conviction that she has done just what her son would have done in returning good for evil.