The workers of a dye factory have their pay cut by 20% when the factory owner brings in some manchu thugs to try and increase production. desperate to reclaim their full wages, the workers hire an actor to impersonate a priest and kung-fu expert from the temple of shaolin. the factory owner proves the actor a fraud, and punishes all those involved. the young actor feels he has let the workers down, and promises to atone. he sets out for shaolin, determined to be accepted as a kung-fu pupil at the elite temple.