In the year 1820, Balduin is a university student in Prague. He falls in love with a countess, but knows he cannot be with her because of his poverty. So, he strikes a deal with a mysterious man named Scapinelli: he lets Scapinelli take anything he wants from his room in exchange for 600,000 florins. Balduin agrees and Scapinelli takes his part: Balduin's reflection.
Balduin, thanks to his newfound fortune, is able to pursue a life of luxury and the affections of the Countess. His happiness is short-lived, however, as his reflection, free of the mirror, runs amok, causing havoc around town, which is blamed on Balduin.
