It is 1882, and while negotiations for the cession of Thessaly to Greece are underway, the bandit Stelios Karanasos and his men, taking advantage of the Ottomans' indifference to the region, plunder and terrorize the mountain villages. When his gang robs and burns down the house of the Zorba brothers, they kidnap Karanasos' sister, Krini, and demand a ransom for her release. During the three days she remained with them, Dimitros, the youngest of the four brothers, fell deeply in love with her. The feeling is mutual. After her release, Dimitros tries to visit her secretly at her home, but Karanasos captures him. His brothers then attack the house to free him and, during the clash, Karanasos is killed. Dimitrios and Krinio are now free to enjoy their union and live happily ever after.

In eastern Macedonia, the Bulgarians receive from the Germans the conquered Greek lands. Bulgarian Major Antoine Paiko is appointed governor of the area he had destroyed in 1918, shortly before he retreated. He secretly seizes Gregory and puts in place his twin brother Ivan Simeonov, whom the Bulgarians have kidnapped and raised as theirs. The "savior" fools the villagers, but not Gregory's fiancé.