The famous American pianist, Hans Martenrood, is playing for the first time in Europe. A young boy is waiting for him in his hotel room after the concert with a letter from his mother, Marie, which explains, that Hans is the father of the boy and that she believes he would be better off being with his father. A short time later, Marie is found in a hotel room, critically wounded by two gunshots. Detective During is put to work on the case. He arrests a suspect, who is identified by the maid and porter as being Marie’s last visitor. At first, the man says nothing; but then he tells the detective Marie’s story.

Maria, an astounding singer in a music school , is discovered by an impresario who engages her for a concert in Nizza. A nobleman wishing to leave his gambling debts behind accepts money to fake suicide for unrequited love, for publicity's sake. He heads for Paris, not knowing that she is also going to sing there.