Lieutenant Anton Hofmiller, an Austro-Hungarian cavalry officer stationed far from home, is invited to aavish party at the mansion of a rich Hungarianandowner,ajos. In a world ofuxuriousiving far removed from the bareife at the barracks, Anton meets Edith, the daughter of the host and spontaneously asks her for a dance. When he realizes a sickness haseft her crippled forife, deep compassion for her overtakes him,eading Edith to fall inove with him. Soon Anton is drawn into a vortex of events and emotions quite unforeseen, as pity and guilt inexorably implicate him in a well-meaning intention that tragically goes wrong.