Otto van Oudijck is a Dutch resident in Laboewangi, Java around 1900. His job is to keep the local regents in line, including one in particular from Ngadjiwa who suffers from gambling and drinking debts. Because he is so obsessed with his job, Van Oudijck fails to realize that his vain and self observed second wife Leonie is having an affair with Theo, his son from a previous marriage.

Everybody in Laboewangi is gossiping about Leonie van Oudijck and her adulterous ways. Even her husband is being informed by way of anonymous letters. After warning young playboy Addy de Luce to be careful in his relationship with her step-daughter Doddi, Leonie proceeds to seduce him herself. Otto finds himself forced to fire the regent of Ngadjiwa on account of drunken behavior.

Leonie keeps alternating between two lovers until suddenly unexplainable things start occurring in and around the Resident's mansion. An invisible force which the Indonesians call 'Goena Goena' appears to spit Sirijuice at Leonie while she is bathing. Otto also experiences a constant and ominous drumming sound as well as moving mirrors and glasses that shatter all by themselves. However, he refuses to leave the house, even after his wife and children have relocated to Soerabaja.