The movie follows two distinct plot lines until the two eventually merge: the first is that of the bored middle-aged man seeking a departure from monotony in his life; the second is that of the blind man and the little boy, his grandson, who are interdependent. None of the characters have been given names and are therefore referred to only by description. The city is an expressionistic nightmare, a dangerous and chaotic place.
James Mistoll, one of the owners of a factory, and working on a process to turn copper ore into radium, falls from a window on the fourth floor and dies; This was no accident, but a murder. A detective sends his assistant, Barnes, to investigate and soon the number of suspects from within the company multiplies.
A foal runs away from its native pasture, falls into a swamp and is rescued by the circus dancer Arabella. The stud owner, a young gentleman rider, names the animal after its rescuer Arabella. Arabella then becomes a celebrated racehorse, and when the circus performer and the gentleman rider meet again, they fall in love.
After the revelation that Georg has seduced her, Maria is driven away by her father. Georg, fearing the wrath of Maria's father, has swiftly abandoned the girl and left for the mining town of Sankt Anton, where he expects to hide easily amongst the large population of colliers. Maria must care for herself, and ends up in Sankt Anton, where she attempts to rebuild her life. There, she gets to know Thomas, and soon the young people are engaged. When Georg and Maria meet again, drama ensues. The film originally ran 97 minutes.
A couple are at the theatre with a playwright friend. At the end of the play the jealous husband strangles his wife to death. When the play ends, the man talks to his friend about such a nonsensical finale, telling the author that no man with any sense ever gets jealous enough to choke his wife in these modern times. The playwright decides to test this supposedly perfect couple about their happy feelings for each other.
Attorney General Trevor's second wife is found stabbed to death in his safe. Due to a ring with the initials DG, which is also found in the safe, the suspicion initially falls on Donald Gordon, the fiancé of Trevor's daughter.
