Leo and Ulrich are life long friends. Home, on leave from their military
training, Leo sees the beautiful Felicitas at the railroad station. Awed by her
beauty, they meet again at the ball and quietly leave together. In her room,
her husband, about whom she has neglected to inform Leo, comes in and
challenges Leo to a duel. The duel is done, the Count is killed, and Felicitas
is a widow. Leo, however, is 'requested' to serve 5 years in Africa and he
tells Ulrich to watch over Felicitas while he is gone. After 3 years, Ulrich is
able to get a pardon for Leo, and all that Leo thinks about on the way home
is
Felicitas. When he arrives, he learns that Felicitas has married Ulrich.
Felicitas likes that Ulrich is rich and she never told Ulrich the truth about Leo
and her. Leo is crushed and does not visit them which saddens Ulrich as he
does not know the reason why. Leo tries to stay away from her, but Felicitas
uses every opportunity to tempt him to return to her as her lover. She
creating
a deadly triangle with the two life long friends.