In early 20th century Algiers, a French cavalry officer becomes infatuated with a charming young Arab woman he meets in Parisian high society. When she returns home to Algeria, he pursues her against all social conventions. But the stark differences between their cultures soon jeopardize the relationship, as the officer discovers the woman's world is far more inscrutable and perilous than he imagined. Unable to win her affections, he turns desperate and makes a fatal misstep that draws the fury of her proud and brooding husband. With vivid descriptions of both dazzling Paris salons and labyrinthine Algerian streets, this suspenseful tale explores clashing cultures and dangerous passions against the exotic backdrop of colonial North Africa.