The Mokuhana has been impounded in Saigon for smuggling. The owner, Countess Van Idall, brings Smith from Hong Kong to apply his deviousness to getting the vessel back. She also hires a lawyer named Nordam to bail out the crew because she needs the captain, Babcock, to testify in her favor. But Smith finds out that Nordam is also Delaht of Colonial Steamship Lines. He has schemed to acquire the Mokuhana at half its market value. Smith finds proof of this in the ship's log, but it will do no good in Delaht's home court. The solution is a bit of piracy. It impresses the Countess, who wants to reward him with a permanent berth as a captain.
—atash