Story

During a daring ride, the baron's daughter falls into the raging river and Francis rescues Aurelie. The two spend a night of love together. The next day, Francis is chased away by Aurelie's brother, Hermogen von Waldstätten. He takes his vows and joins the monastery as a monk. Francis is put in charge of the chamber of relics, where the devil's elixirs are kept. Viktorin, a "juggler, trickster and gangster" who is having an affair with Aurelie's stepmother, visits the monastery. He is shown the relics and drinks from the bottle containing the elixirs. From then on, evil takes its course. Whilst travelling to the bishop in Rome, Francis falls victim to a case of mistaken identity and intrigue: he is accused of the double murder of Aurelie's father and her brother. He flees with the help of his father, the puppeteer Belcampo. Under his protection, Aurelie ends up giving birth to a child before entering the convent as a novice. During the procession in honour of Saint Rosalie, Francis is murdered in the back of the convent church.