The dashing mountaineer Zaur (B. Bestaev) kills a Russian "imperialist" thereby becoming an abrek, member of a roving band of outlaws.
Dolgat and Ismail are friends; they work in 19th century Karachai-Balkaria in wood-industry. Ismail by accident kills brother of Dolgat. He believes that it happens by chance and does not think that his best mate is guilty. But mountain community demands for a vendetta.
