Polina is a beautiful carefree nobleman's daughter. Her father throws a birthday ball to attract suitors. But has a heart attack. A self serving notary has the ill man sign freedom papers for servant girl Tatiana, casting Polina to fate.

Nephew Sergey and notary Boris team up to steal Polina's inheritance. Nikita loves her but cannot marry a serf. Polina's best friend Tatiana has run away without a word. Will the truth come out?

The untrustworthy Count buys the mansion at auction along with 840 acres. Polina is sent to work in the kitchen by a wary Countess who hates horses. Boris and Tatiana move to St Petersburg.

Polina angers Anna and is sent to work in the coal pits. Boris can't make Tatiana happy. Sergey blackmails Andrey. Nastassia commits suicide. Dmitri helps Polina twice.

Anna orders Polina to organize the hunt for nobles. Andrey plots an assassination. Polina wins over her coworkers by reading to them. Andrey tries to rape Polina. A pretty rich girl sets her sights on Dmitri.

Someone gets shot during the foxhunt. Anna breaks a promise. Dmitri gives Polina back her beloved horse Lushka. Polina is forced to be an unpaid tutor to Ilyah. Tatiana attempts suicide. Boris is going broke.

Polina boards her horse with a murderer. Andrey plans to marry off Polina. Stephan is held in the root cellar. Anna plots with the Princess to steal Dmitri away from Polina.

Dmitri tries to get Polina a passport. Stephan escapes the cellar. The Princess pouts. A criminal threatens Boris. Tatiana has an unhappy dinner party.

Ilya thrives with Polina as his governess. Boris cannot please social climbing Tatiana who gets a tutor. Andrei arranges for Polina to marry Efim. And pairs Dmitri with Ekatarina.

Boris is blackmailed into crime by Lev Egorovich. The priest wants to make hot air balloon. The serf girls have a sauna. Anna denies she is abused. Tatiana takes a lover.

Evdokia is feeding Stepan who is hiding out in the woods on the estate. He goes to the police and Efim is arrested, stopping the wedding. Dmitri stops a kidnapping.

Andrei announces Dmitri's engagement to Ekatarina. Efim dies in jail before questioning. Vera helps Polina look for Boris. Dmitri gets closer to the truth about Polina's parentage.

Boris and Tatiana are on the run staying in a brothel. Dmitri has agreed to marry Ekatarina as long as Andrei frees Polina. The truth gets closer to coming out.

The evil Count Andrei gives Polina freedom then has her kidnapped and hidden away. Famous singer Barinov sings with a serf girl Palashks and sees talent. Ekatarina flirts with Andrei. Dmitri gets evidence.

Polina learns of her birth and her mother's death at the convent where she has been hidden away. Vera tracks Boris and Tatiana who are broke and have no passports. Boris is arrested. Dmitri finds Polina's horse.

Dmitri helps rescue Polina and Vera from the brothel and gives Polina her freedom papers. Lev is arrested. Anna leaves Andrei and sends Ilya to the cadet academy. Tatiana kills herself. Andrei and Dmitri duel.

Dmitri marries Polina. Ekatarina becomes Andrei's mistress. He has Dmitri falsely arrested for murder. Boris tells the truth in court but is stabbed. Andrei is sent into exile. Dmitri adopts his infant niece Nadya.