Agnes and Matei, two young people from a village in Transylvania, are deeply in love and wish to marry, despite the bitter feud between their parents. When Matei leaves to join the army, Agnes discovers she is pregnant. To escape her father's wrath, she flees her home and seeks refuge with Matei's father. However, after being insulted by him one evening, she leaves that home as well, only to suffer a terrible accident. Meanwhile, Matei receives news that completely upturns the course of the story.