Boris wins a violin competition, and Countess Montjoie, an admirer, gives him an inherited Stradivarius on the condition that he comes to play for her regularly, as she does not have long to live. During one of those evenings, he meets Elsa, the daughter of the countess's handyman. They fall in love. One day, he leaves his mother to look after the violin, but when a fire breaks out, Boris has to go to extreme lengths to save the countess's violin. Fortunately, he manages to rescue the violin from the raging fire and is able to play a farewell serenade at the countess's deathbed.