Ursula Diewen, daughter of a recently-deceased merchant, is engaged to marry Heinrich Heinsius. On the wedding day, Ursula's friend, Martha Detleffson, tells her that Heinrich is the father of her illegitimate child. Ursual cancels the wedding and takes refuge in a country estate. Heinrich commits suicide. Ursual meets a young school teacher, Uwe Alsiev, and the two find they have much in common. Martha arrives and arranges with Ursula to have her child boarded at the home of a near-by pastor. Village gossips then spread the word that the child is Uwe's.