Episodes vital in the life of the great symphonist in the heyday of his powers, when master creation after master creation flowed from his pen, a perfect river of inspiration, glory shone upon him. Love as well as art engages his mighty powers. There is another man, younger than he, with more of the gallantries dear to the feminine heart. He surprises the rival and the girl in a love tete-a-tete and the door shuts upon his happiness. The grief of his unrequited passion preys upon his mind, which in turn affects the strength of his body. Then comes the affliction of deafness. He is fearful lest the world know of this infirmity and he guards the secret jealously. It is at last discovered. In spite of his deafness, his genius will not down and although unable to hear the melodies which surged to his soul, he wrote them down in the great silence, in the thought that the world might happily hear what was denied to his ears. As the Angel of Death hovers near, he sees a vision of the characters and scenes portrayed in his opuses, the "Pastoral" and "Joy." Mortality is accomplished upon a body whose soul and works knew naught but immortality.
—Moving Picture World synopsis