A local Romanian chieftain in 16th century Transylvania discovers a great treasure of Decebalus. He decides to send it for safekeeping in Moldavia, but he has to evade the Transylvanian prince and the king of Hungary, who get wind of it and want it for themselves.
A construction site is set up next to a colony of forest workers. Murgu, a worker on the construction site, and Maria, a girl raised by foresters who took care of the colony's household affairs, fall in love with each other.
Margelatu, the feared criminal helps the Romanian resistance to fight the dictatorial authorities.
A continuation of a story started in the drama "With Clean Hands" (1972).