A detective investigating the murder of a rich widow stumbles into a dangerous supernatural struggle between the woman's physician and her violent, seductive doppelgänger.

A young master, Vladimir Dubrovsky, comes to the estate to visit his father, who has long been in litigation with his neighbor, the despotic landowner Troekurov. Having seriously insulted Dubrovsky Sr., Troekurov tries to go to peace, but the proud old man is adamant.