The plot takes place in 1880, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, following the lives of three strong and determined women. Aurélia, Maria da Glória and Mila are great friends who attend etiquette classes together, but life doesn't take long to put them in completely different directions.

Donato Menezes, a renowned art restorer from Copacabana is also a serial killer obsessed with women in their bridal gowns. His crimes follows the same pattern: he seduces and then kills the victim during the sexual act, always when they're wearing the gown.

This telenovela is full of secrets. The plot releases love stories, hate, friendship, revenge, friendship, hate and many surprises. The exciting story of Flame of Life shows a love growing interest started in two childhood friends who haven’t seen each other for many years and are bring back together in a tragic moment.

Pedro da Maia, meets a beautiful woman called Maria Monforte with whom he gets married despite his father's objection. The marriage produces a son, Carlos Eduardo, and a daughter. Some time later, Maria Monforte falls in love with Tancredo and runs away to Italy with him, taking her daughter along. When Pedro finds out, he goes with his son to his father's house where he commits suicide. Carlos stays at his grandfather's house and is educated by him. Carlos, becomes a doctor and opens his own office. Later he meets a gorgeous woman, Maria Eduarda. The two fall in love and have dozens of nights together. Eventually Carlos finds out later that Maria lied to him about her past and he starts fearing the worst. In the end, Carlos finds out that Maria is his sister. He informs her that they are siblings and that they cannot live like this anymore. Carlos, to forget his tragedies, goes for a trip around the world.

Isaura was born in 1835, in the farm of Commender Almeida. She is the daughter of the slave Juliana and the tenant of the farm, Miguel. Juliana dies right after the birth, because she denied going to bed with the Commender. He whips her to death in revenge. So, Isaura is raised and educated by Gertrudes, wife of the Commender, who always wanted to have a daughter. In spite of her excellent education and the white skin, Isaura, as a daughter of a slave,will always be treated as a slave.

In the tiny poor town of Asa Branca, in the middle of Brazilian Northeast, Roque Santeiro is worshiped as a saint. He was supposedly killed by a bandit, 18 years ago, trying to save the local church. After his disappearance, local leaderships such as landowner Sinhozinho Malta and mayor Florindo, took profit on that to control the humble population. They even make up a widow, Porcina, who should have married Roque secretly before his death. What they don't expect is that Roque is alive, and he's back to, allegedly, "save his people". Now Malta, Florindo, Porcina, and others must hold him down and explain the "truth" to their commoners, in a desperate attempt to save their own bottoms. Meanwhile, mysterious facts surround Asa Branca, such as a Werewolf, a film crew who are trying to shoot a movie about Roque's story, and violent murderers.