There is a poor farmer couple. The landowner, an old man, covetous of the tenant's wife, tries to seduce her and sometimes threatens her. The wife spends every night with the old man at the water mill. Her husband, hearing the news, runs to the water mill and witnesses them together. He picks up the sickle that was placed near and kills his wife. The landowner escapes and the farmer gets arrested by a Japanese policeman.

나그네 방원은 물을 마시다 버선을 줍고 그 주인을 찾아다니다 물레방아에서 죽은 여인을 위로하는 굿을 하는 아름다운 여인을 본다. 여인에 홀린 방원은 마을을 떠나지 않고 머슴살이를 하려 하는데...