The shepherd Goran and Sevdana are in love. Her father, Old Stanko, gets wind of this and decides to punish the shepherd. Kancho is also in love with Sevdana and looks for opportunity to get rid of Goran. Old Stanko is hurt in a quarrel for land with peasants from the neighboring village. Goran helps him. Kanco takes advantage of the general confusion and shoots at the shepherd. While the two men lie wounded on the ground Kancho surprises Sevdana, who is worried about her father, and drags her towards the vineyards. Aunt Strahila rushes to her help. Sevdana looks after Goran. Old Stanko curses his daughter believing that she is being disgraced. The peasants attribute the present drought to the sins of the young and their defiance of established customs and traditions. Everyone shuns Sevdana and she loses her mind. Kancho does not evade retribution and dies. Goran leaves the village.