Rudolf Brix

On New Year's Eve 1900, Paul Holzgruber started a new praxis as a radiologist. The young Maximiliane Frey is his assistant and they have worked side by side for years helping people. Holzgruber repeatedly points out the dangers of radiation to Maximiliane, but is silent about the ulcers on his hand and the severe pain they have caused. Maximiliane has gotten to know the widower Axel von Bonin and has fallen in love with him. But then she is diagnosed with incurable cancer. To spare Axel the inevitable grief over her impending death, she leaves him and dedicates what is left her life to medicine.

A group of talented young people are dismissed from an ice dancing troupe as a result of the intrigues of Alida, the wife of impresario Gordon. Outraged, the young people leave Gordon's troupe and, having organized their own group, soon achieve success with audiences. Gordon, deprived of his talented performers, suffers a collapse and goes bankrupt.

A wealthy man murders his wife, then marries a young woman who becomes suspicious of him.

At a ball at the Metropol, the married Margit gives a harmless kiss to a one-time friend from her childhood and cousin, Eberhard. The two notice, however, that Margit's ill and jealous husband observed them from a distance, because he recognized the coat she recently purchased. Quickly, Margit asks the salesgirl Trude to put on her coat and meet Eberhard in the lobby. Things take a decidedly different turn, however, when Trude and Eberhard fall madly in love with each other.