Alfred Menhardt

Magdalena Percht, the daughter of a mayor, returns to her mountain hometown as a young schoolteacher. Andreas, a wealthy sawmill owner and troublemaker, assaults her. When Magdalena discovers she is pregnant and faces harsh social stigma, Andreas's brother, Christian, agrees to marry her to save her from shame, and romance eventually develops between them.

When Arlette, born out of wedlock, moves from the countryside to the big city of Paris, she is drawn to the bohemian circles, where she can be herself. She quickly feels at home and befriends the painter Luc Lamballe and the student Marc Tissier. After some time, it becomes clear to both of them that they have fallen in love with Arlette. But unexpectedly, she has her eyes set on someone else: the serious civil servant Gérard Laurent.