Dr. Holk leads an isolated and lonely existence in a small, Dutch colony in the tropics. Having fled from love and civilization, his only companions now are alcohol and his work, which takes him to villages ravaged by dirt, fever and a strange illness which turns innocent people into madmen: Amok. One day, he is called on by Helene Haviland, who asks him to abort her lover's child before her husband returns from abroad. Even though Holk is enchanted by her seductive beauty, he haughtily refuses her request. Rejected, the woman turns to a Chinese practitioner. When Holk tracks her down in a dirty dive, it's already too late for the two of them.

Mr. Bouton, a modest carpenter from Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, widower and father of Pinpin, a little boy, marries Mrs. Colombe, mother of Ninette, a little girl. Soon deceived and abandoned, he raises the two children alone. As an adult, Pinpin falls in love with Ninette, but she is in love with Gérard Garnier, whom she soon marries. The children gone, Bouton finds himself alone and one Christmas evening meets Mrs. Marie, a mother who raises her two children alone.

The virtuous Nicole is the wife of wealthy composer Lucien. Through an error made by a dressmaker, Nicole discovers that Lucien is leading a double life, keeping the sexy Chichette as his mistress. In retaliation, Nicole kicks up her heels and begins fooling around with a reckless gigolo. When our heroine's hedonistic new lifestyle threatens the well-being of her son, a contrite Lucien returns home and promises never to stray again.

Two girls, Ginette and Gaby, have just run away, outraged by the mistreatment of their governess. After many adventures, they will find their father, who has become a thug, and their mother who had disappeared in a shipwreck.