Tarzan survives captivity and the arena and joins forces with Romans who oppose the ruling tyranny, while von Harben struggles through court intrigue, imprisonment, and danger as his romance and his desire for freedom draw him deeper into the conflict. Rivalry between the two cities grows into open warfare and rebellion, and Tarzan allies himself with those resisting oppression while von Harben fights to protect the woman he loves and the friends who have aided him. After battles and political upheaval overthrow the hostile regime, von Harben gains both freedom and love, while Tarzan leaves the hidden Roman world after helping restore a more just order.
