Hans Paschke läßt sich schon seit Jahr und Tag von seiner Gattin aushalten. Der Charmeur und Frauenheld Hans Paschke sieht zwar gut aus und hat perfekte Umgangsformen, hat mit Arbeit aber nichts am Hut. Dafür weiß er, seine natürlichen Vorteile geschickt `an die Frau' zu bringen. Seine Ehefrau Marion toleriert sein Verhalten bis sie ihn in flagranti erwischt. Die Goldschmiedemeisterin Elke animiert den nun mittellosen Hans dazu, für ein wertvolles Familienerbstück eine Scheinehe mit der verwitweten Ärztin Marianne einzugehen.

The war is over and soldier Christoffel has no prospects for the future and no money. He doesn't know what to do, so he meets the devil. He offers him a pact: Christoffel's pockets are always full of money, but he is not allowed to wash, cut his hair or nails for seven years and he is not allowed to sleep in a bed. If he doesn't keep to all these things, he will be forever devoted to the devil. Christoffel accepts the condition. Relieved of his worries about the future, Christoffel sets off. However, he soon becomes lonely. Society avoids him; he is dirty, unkempt and smelly. He only finds a place to stay in prison. He pays off the debts of a goldsmith, which wins him the heart of Katarina, the goldsmith's daughter. However, Christoffel is aware of his appearance and leaves her. After seven years, he is finally cleansed by the devil himself and returns to her as a well-groomed man.