Ratoff is a lion tamer who hears that a rival of his has died by a lioness.
Ratoff adopts the daughter of the deceased man, and he buys the lioness that killed him.
As time goes on, he becomes increasingly jealous of the men who pay attention to the girl, who has grown into a beautiful woman.
As his fame at the circus is being surpassed, he demands the woman marry him.
She becomes involved with the very one surpassing his fame, however, and this pushes Ratoff too far.