The Swabian journeyman watchmaker Christoph Bühler is in love with Lorle, the daughter of his boss. One day, the factory owner Ferdinand Hausegger woos Bühler away, whereupon the young man seems to forget the Swabian girl. Only after four years does he propose to her, but the marriage is not under a good star. While Christoph, who has long since moved away from the Swabian province with his wife, makes a career for himself, he neglects his Lorle more and more and soon seems ashamed of her simple...