Sickly Elena marries Alexander Sterling, who once made extreme sacrifices for her. After three happy years, Alexander grows infatuated with Bella, drives nurse Martha to death, and secretly divorces Elena to wed Bella.Devastated, Elena departs for the Swiss Alps. Alexander pursues her, meets a fatal accident on the Matterhorn. In later years, Elena dies quietly surrounded by butterflies, united with him eternally among snow peaks.