Count Ludwig von Leun-Walram, a German army officer, rejects with kindness the love of French actress Marguerite Clarion. He falls in love with his childhood friend, Marcelle de Lambach, the daughter of a French general, but before they can marry, war is declared and they become enemies. Ludwig returns to Germany, while Marcelle accompanies her father to the front, where, after he dies, she leads his troops, is captured by Ludwig's troops, and is escorted to the French side. Meanwhile, Marguerite refuses the advances of spy Paul D'Arblay and joins the Red Cross. After she finds Ludwig injured and nurses him at her aunt's home, D'Arblay threatens to reveal Ludwig's whereabouts and denounce him as a spy unless she agrees to marry him. She consents, but after Ludwig is well and leaves, D'Arblay finds that Marguerite has poisoned herself rather than marry him. Ludwig now dreams of the war's end when he can marry Marcelle.