Professor Archibald Murray, his daughter Betsy, her fiancé Richard Watson and doctor William Watson all go on a mission to Pompeii, Paestum, Solonto... to find the secret of life. Richard Watson discovers a weird amphora with a Latin inscription and shows it to the professor. In it are three scrolls. Upon reading the third one, Betsy faints and the third scroll disappears. The next day, Betsy rides her horse to her fiancé's dig and is surprised by a storm. She finds refuge in Ascanio's house, a shepherd, who falls in love with her and tries to keep her there with the help of Stephana, his servant.Meanwhile, the professor's assistant, Cesarini, who stole the scroll, reveals the existence of a treasure to Ascanio. Richard and William look for Betsy and trace her back to Ascanio's house.