Dr. Paul Venner, a headstrong young doctor, is working on the development of a serum to renew destroyed brain cells. He is watched with skepticism by his colleagues, whom he repeatedly snubs with his cynical manner. Physician Françoise Maurer also feels his coldness. But very soon he senses that she gains her great strength from her faith, and a deep affection develops between them.

The focus of the story is on the relation between the femme fatale and an escaped prisoner, who manages to save himself from the clutches of the vamp in the very last minute (no spoiler, the end of the film is missing!). A dream reveals to him the real nature of duchess Leda Orlonia/geisha/marchesa Rochefou, and he decides to leave the ‘woman with the many names’ for a kind-hearted and decent American girl.