Awa, the daughter of a lighthose keeper, marries the wealthy Frank Helmer. But urban life proves difficult for Awa, and when a woman from Frank’s past reappears in his life, Awa’s life goes from bad to worse.

A young lieutenant falls in love with a circus rider. He leave the military and take a job at the circus. He quickly becomes the crowds favorite. His interest in another woman drives the rejected circus rider to revenge.

The rich Baron Von Meislingen dreams of being a poet-- Unfortunately, he has no talent what so ever. In one of his apartments lives the talented but poor poet Peter Långhår. Von Meislingen steals his latest work from him and publishes it under his own name. 'His' poems becomes a success and Von Meislingen becomes regarded as one of the greatest living poets.

Count de Faber is working on a new type of explosive, but finds out that Professor Plussman has beat him to it. After an unsuccessful attempt to acquire the formula from Plussman, he breaks into the professor's house, steals the formula, and kidnaps his daughter, Mary. He takes her to Carlsten Fortress.