Guido Marcello, a young composer, is madly infatuated with Maria Medici, a pretty singer. Maria sings his first composition and, overcome with her beauty and his emotions, Guido begs her to become his wife. Maria, however, prefers her musical career to marriage and rejects Guido’s proposal. Heartbroken he returns home. Later the death of his mother leaves him entirely alone in the world. Tears later Guido is housed in a wretched garret, poverty-stricken and still searching for musical fame. Meanwhile. Maria has become a noted prima donna. One day Guido, in passing the theater, sees the posters announcing Maria’s grand concert. Sick at heart he turns away only to come face to face with Maria. Wishing to avoid recognition, Guido goes on to his lodgings. Maria has recognized him, sends her maid to secure his address, then visits him in the garret. Guido confesses his poverty and shows her his rejected music. One piece attracts Maria’s attention, she sings it over and instantly agrees to render it that night at the concert. Guido refuses her money for it, but thanks her for her aid and Maria leaves with the song. That night her concert is a great triumph and Guido’s music has set the critics agog. Meanwhile. Guido’s brutal landlord threatens him with eviction and, during his absence, ruins his violin and destroys his music. Guido returns, discovers the awful situation, drives the landlord from the garret and. worn out with hunger and exhaustion, becomes delirious. Maria and her delighted friends now enter to tell him of his fame, only to find a gibbering ghost of poor Guido. His reason partly returns at hearing Maria sing his music but, on realizing he is famous, is stricken and dies while Maria sobs out her grief over his wasted body.