On the struggle of the Caucasian highlanders against the autocracy. The eve of the first world war. The extortion and tyranny of tsarist officials are ruining the Georgian farmers and herders. For failure to pay rent, they sell under the hammer a part of poor Ayub. His bride is abducted by the foreman's son. His relative Zelim Khan intervenes for Ayub and they are both sent to prison. Zelim Khan and Ayub flee from prison to the mountains and become abreks. In the city, authorities suppress the strike movement of workers in the Grozny oil fields. In response, the abreks attack trains, shoot officials and gendarmes. Punitive units are sent against the abreks. At the hands of the punishers, the father and brothers of Zelim Khan perish. Highlander avenges the blood of loved ones. In one of the battles, Zelim Khan dies in an unequal struggle with enemies