The English landowner Wolton has gone on a fishing trip in the Spreewald with his daughter May. They meet fellow Englishman Bruce, who falls head over heels in love with the beautiful May and plans to make her his wife before their holiday is over. However, there is just one problem: May has only eyes for the young boatman Max. Bruce finds an ally in Max’s girlfriend, Grete, and together they do everything in their power to stop the budding love affair. A war of love with a fatal outcome.

The landowner Bergmann and his wife hire Annie as a maid, but when the girl gets pregnant by a relative of her master, they dismiss her. Only Johann, the coachman, tries to help her. The child grows up without his mother at the Bergmanns'. A few years later, Johann helps Annie kidnap her son. But, discovered, he is condemned and imprisoned. After serving his sentence, the coachman retaliates by burning the estate. Annie, who tries to save her son, is killed.