Elena Nikolaevna Stakhova, a girl from a noble family, is full of lofty ideals. Seeking “active good” and heroism and not finding the use of her powers in her environment, she falls in love with the Bulgarian student Insarov, a poor commoner democrat. Elena completely devotes herself to her chosen one and follows him along his difficult path. After the wedding, the young people decide to leave for Bulgaria, where the struggle for freedom has been going on for 400 years. But, never having reached his homeland, Insarov dies...