Russia. End of the 19th century. Elsa Rieger, the illegitimate daughter of the landowner Selivanov, learns about the death of her father and that she is owed a considerable inheritance. Filled with hope for the future, she goes to her father's estate with her fiancé. At the estate, Elsa learns that, alas, she is not the only heir, and the contents of the will plunge the girl into shock. A sharp struggle unfolds between the heirs for the possession of Selivanov’s wealth, when all means are good to achieve the goal. Circumstances develop in such a way that Elsa is disappointed in her fiancé and her thoughts are increasingly occupied by her cousin...