Pyotr Andreyich Grinyov (the narrative is conducted on his behalf) is the only surviving child of a retired Imperial Army officer.

Arriving in Orenburg, Pyotr reports to his commanding officer and is assigned to serve at Fort Belogorsky under Captain Ivan Mironov.

Pyotr befriends his fellow officer Shvabrin, who has been banished here after a duel resulted in the death of his opponent.

Not much later, the fortress is besieged by the insurgent Yemelyan Pugachev, who claims to be the Emperor Peter III.

The fort is to be left under the command of Shvabrin, who takes advantage of the situation to try to compel Masha to marry him.

Not willing to drag Masha into court, Pyotr is unable to repudiate this accusation and receives the death penalty.

Masha understands why Pyotr wasn't able to defend himself and decides to go to St. Petersburg, to present a petition to the empress.

In Tsarskoye Selo, she meets a lady of the court and details her plan to see the Empress on Pyotr's behalf.