Associate Professor Jakub Johanek was looking forward to his uncle's inheritance and celebrated it with his friends in advance, not knowing what treasures he could actually expect. He had a few too many drinks and woke up the next day with a perfect window. He is tormented by a hangover, and on top of that, the housekeeper comes in with a statement that he robbed her daughter of her wedding ring yesterday - so the associate professor is in for a quick wedding. Although Jakub has been eyeing the girl for a long time, he now has completely different concerns. He has been approached by a certain loafer who claims to have seen Johanek set fire to a stack of wood at night with his own eyes. If he doesn't get a hefty ransom, he will go and report him...

In Slovakia’s Tatra mountains, ironsmith Pavel lives with his son Janko and orphan Anuška, who are close. Janko spends summer pasturing sheep, while Anuška deals with Jura’s advances. Janko meets Soňa Varenová, a city woman seeking peace, and becomes her guide, causing village gossip. At a festival, Janko ignores Anuška for Soňa, angering Pavel. Pavel asks Soňa to leave Janko for Anuška, and she agrees despite her feelings. Janko seeks Anuška’s forgiveness, but she’s in the mountains. He follows her, and they reconcile by lighting a large fire.

People are afraid of the usurer Chazaj and are convinced that he is the bearer of evil. One day Chazaj pays a visit to the poor artist Simon Jordán and asks him to paint his portrait. Simon agrees but as he progresses with the work his mind conjures up terrible thoughts and in the end he commits suicide. The portrait looks lifelike and Chazaj is content with the results. After Chazaj's death the picture changes hands and brings misfortune to all who own it. The last victim is the young painter Roman who buys Chazaj's portrait in a bazaar. He finds a treasure in the frame and begins to live well off it. The comfortable life suits him so well that he rejects his original artistic aims and becomes a painter of fashionable kitsch.