Story of a farmer's wife waiting for her husband to return home from the war.

Deeply disappointed by her bridegroom, Andrea flees from Bruggern to the south and experiences a beautiful "Romance in Venice". She falls in love with the boyish-charming pianist Stefan Schröder. But a misunderstanding leads to breakage. Andrea returns pregnant to Germany. Stefan signs a contract for America. And the years go by .

The wealthy farm heir Toni loves the maid Maria, but is supposed to marry the wealthy neighbor's daughter Annerl. She only has eyes for a penniless woodcarver. Only when Toni's stubborn father dies does a future for the lovers begin.

The simple and good-natured coachman Henschel has a sick wife and a deceitful maid who looks after the household. The wife makes him promise never to marry the maid. But after his wife's death, Henschel succumbs to the temptation of the maid.

A unlucky village railroader causes a trainwreck by accident. In court he is exculpated by a woman who first becomes his lover, later on his wife. But in the end, his guilt is too strong and he faces his due punishment.