The wealthy De Roquevilles, the family of alcoholic veteran Jean Laurent, and that of farmer Godard; all have to deal with the outbreak of the Great War. To complicate things even more, Godard's daughter Anny falls in love with young Mario Laurent, who turns out to have inherited some of his father's vices. First part of Maurits Binger's epic silent trilogy.

Anny helps Mario escape from prison after his attempted murder of Gaston de Roqueville, who is now married to Ninette. Banker Sorga, an enemy spy, attempts to steal Mario's latest invention: a powerful explosive that could alter the course of the war. Second part of Maurits Binger's epic trilogy, now considered lost.

Lona, a young woman who has no memories of her past, has been adopted by the rich industrialist Van Haaften. She is loved by Henri van Rhenen, a neighbour whose mother still mourns the loss of her daughter, who disappeared twenty years ago under mysterious circumstances. Lona has another suitor, Frans van Borselen, who hopes to marry her so that he can pay his gambling debts with her foster-father's money. Van Haaften discovers that Frans has been cheating at cards and offers him a revolver so that he can end his life honourably.

In the prologue, a boat with some shipwrecked persons is drifting at sea. Among them is Baron van Waldheim, who, before he dies of exhaustion, entrusts his little son Alfred to the care of his butler Hendrik. The evil Jan van Oort persuades Hendrik to give him the Baron's papers. When they put the boy ashore, he wounds himself on a nail (leaving a scar that will later prove his identity). For years Van Oort manages to pass himself off as Baron van Waldheim; he is married and has a daughter and a son. One day Hendrik turns up demanding a job as butler, swearing that otherwise he will betray Van Oort's secret. Meanwhile, Alfred - now an adult known as Ulbo Garvema - has become a teacher. Unaware of who Van Oort really is, he accepts the position of tutor to Van Oort's children. He falls in love with the daughter, but Van Oort refuses to give his consent to their marriage. Ulbo and the girl elope.

Beppie, Margie and Lola, the three talented daughters of American millionaire James Brown, set course to Amsterdam with their art teacher ms. Polly Dewar. There all three of them fall for the charms of attractive tenor Adelqui, the boyfriend of famous diva Anny.

The happy life of Sylvia and Pieter is disrupted when Sylvia loses her sight and her sister Lyda falls in love with her husband.

Ducrot and Ninette accuse Mario and Anny of owing their wealth to the murderous effects of Mario's bombs. Anny leaves for the front to care for the wounded. Third part of Maurits Binger's epic silent trilogy. Most of the film is considered lost – a single fragment remains.