Apromisingyoungpianistcommitssuicide.HespenthislasteveninginthecompanyoftheindustrialistFriedrichHofreiter.HiswifeGeniaisinpossessionofafarewellnote,inwhichthepianistexplainsthatshehadrefusedtohaveanaffairwithhimandthathehadshothimselfoutofunrequitedlove.Genia'ssacrificeandcommitmenttomaritalfidelitycausethenotoriouswomanizerHofreitertohastilyleaveforthemountains,wherehebeginsanewaffair.Duringhisabsence,GeniaembarksonanaffairwithOtto,thesonofanacquaintance.WhenHofreiterreturnsandfindsoutabouthiswife'sadultery,hechallengesOttotoaduelandkillshim.