Young man comes to collect a debt owed to him by the widow Popova's late husband. They argue, duel with pistols and fall in love while all of this is witnessed by Popova's servant Luka.

The story is set in the 1800s.Elena and Inzarov,a revolutionary Bulgarian ,fall in love.After secretly marrying they decide to join the liberation, but on the eve of departure Dmitry dies. Elena takes Inzarov's body to the Balkans .