After the outbreak of World War I, Barney returns to Lutha when he learns that Austrian influence and Prince Peter’s renewed conspiracy threaten the kingdom, but he is accused of espionage, condemned to death, and forced through a series of escapes and pursuits before once again assuming Leopold’s identity to protect Emma and the country. While the weak Leopold allows himself to be manipulated by Lutha’s enemies, Barney leads loyal forces against foreign intervention and the conspirators, only for the presence of two apparent kings to create a final struggle over the throne, Emma, and the future of the kingdom. When Maenck mistakenly kills Leopold and Barney’s legitimate claim through his royal ancestry is established, the nobles and people choose him as their ruler, and he becomes King of Lutha with Emma as his queen while the remaining traitors are defeated or punished.
