In 1885, famous New York Metropolitan Opera singer Maddalena dall' Orto is scheduled to perform at a festival in the German residence of Ilmingen. It soon becomes obvious that she is non other than Magda von Schwartze, who left the town eight years ago against her father's wishes to become a singer.
Young Beatrice has trained as a dancer against her father's wishes. At the circus, she meets the famous tamer Ruda and falls in love with him. But the next day, Ruda disappears with the circus. Beatrice gets a new engagement with another circus and makes a career as a dancer among live tigers.
