Ma l'amor mio non muore... (1913)

In the Grand Duchy of Wallenstein lives the beautiful Elsa Holbein, daughter of Colonel Julius Holbein, Chief of Staff. The adventurer Moise Stahr pretends to court Elsa, but in reality uses her to steal the Grand Duchy’s military plans from her father. Falsely accused of treason, Holbein kills himself, while Elsa, though innocent, is exiled and finds refuge on the Riviera. Forced to survive by making use of her talents as a singer and pianist, she begins performing under the stage name Diana Candouleur and, thanks to an engagement arranged by the impresario Schaudard, achieves considerable success and regains her peace of mind. At the height of her success, Elsa is noticed by Prince Maximilian, heir to the Grand Duke, who knows nothing of her true identity. The two fall in love, but during a boat trip on Lake Maggiore they encounter Stahr, who recognizes Elsa and, after she rejects him, takes revenge by spreading news of the Prince’s relationship and assigning Colonel Theubner the task of bringing the young prince back to his homeland. Defying his father the Grand Duke’s orders, Maximilian returns to look for Elsa. As she gives her final concert, Elsa falls to the ground and the Prince rushes to her aid, but she has already poisoned herself and dies in his arms, murmuring, “But my love will never die!”