Court huntsman, Søtoft, is courting his daughter Else’s lady-in-waiting, Miss Engelke. That’s why it’s a bit of a punch in the stomach when, late one evening, he discovers his son Ove in close contact with her. Chamberlain von Plessen, who had been gossiping to Søtoft and is himself spying on the young couple, is going to set fire to the room they’re in. The hurt Søtoft wants to leave the young couple to their cruel fate – that is until he discovers that it’s not Engelke, but his daughter Else, who is trapped in the flames with her brother. (Stumfilm.dk)

贫苦的小镇上，传教士极力想解救痛苦的灵魂，却受尽镇民讪笑怒骂。小镇青年在损友的怂恿下，逐渐步入犯罪边缘，笃信上帝的女友也随之陷入绝望，传教士及时阻止年轻人的犯行，并缓缓道出自己的荒唐过去。 　　为了凸显明星魅力，影片甚至以演员研读剧本、揣摩角色开场，并在背景投射出主角在片中的剧情转折。因为欧洲各地民情的差异，结局便拍了三种版本，三种结局也反映出丹麦、俄罗斯、瑞典完全不同的民族性。