A young Victorian German aristocrat, Erik, the black sheep of the family, is disowned by his family. Erik finds himself broke, without family, and with few friends. Lost and looking for a place to belong (and an income), Erik finds himself in the service of the Kaiser. At a time of colonial wars with "The War to End All Wars" looming in the future, Erik becomes a spy at a very dangerous time in his country's history. What will become of this young playboy? Will he live long enough to see his thirtieth birthday? Will he spend most of his life rotting in a jail cell on espionage charges? Or, will he be brave enough and lucky enough to survive and die an old man in obscurity? Only time will tell. The story is set at the end of the 19th century.