During a New Year's Eve ball, Jost von Fredersdorff a Prussian cavalry officer falls in love Lili, the lover of his superior. When they decide to get married, their plans are opposed by Jost's family and his superiors in the army and he is denied permission to wed Lili. When Jost insists to go through with the marriage, is even willing to leave the army, he is ordered to the capital where he is locked up. Lili sees that they cannot be together and leaves Jost, so that he can remain an honorable soldier in the service of his king .