The Italian mountaineer Carel wants to be the first man to stand on the top of the Matterhorn. Since the climb is very difficult, he agrees to try it together with the British mountaineer Whymper. But due to an intrigue this agreement is dropped and the two man try it on the same day with two different teams and then disaster strikes.
Josepha
Knight Dietwald von Falkenau returns from his trip to see the Pope through Berchtesgaden to his cloister. He was unsuccessful in his mission to have the papal ban against his emperor lifted. The young Walti, who works in the cloister, jokes with the cloister' cook, Severin, because Dietwald's cold stare scared him. Severin rebukes him, saying that Dietwald has been carrying a heavy burden. Once, Dietwald had his own fortress. This, however, was destroyed during an attack and his wife killed. Since then, he has not seen his daughter again.
