Juraj Hordubal returns from America after eight years, where he has earned enough money to improve his farm. However, his daughter Hafia does not recognize him and his wife Polana does not show any joy at his return. Štěpán Manya has been a farmhand on the farm all these years, and people claim that he has become Polana's lover. Juraj denies the accusations and believes that his wife's distance from him is only due to the long separation...

The illegitimate child, Marie Růžová, grows up in the family of the Bořický miller. Childhood and youth spend with the son of Bořice, Klement. Klement asserts the rights, becomes a lawyer, and marries Jirina. In order not to cause further contradictions, Mary will go to Prague secretly at night. There he is living heavily as a waitress. He resists the insults of architect Jansky until he ultimately decides to commit suicide in despair.