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Negina, a talented actress at a provincial theater, must leave the stage because her purity of behavior is incompatible with theatrical customs. She loves the student Meluzov, and both dream of an honest, hard-working life. Harsh reality destroys her plans. A natural actress, Negina is unable to leave the theater, and in order to serve art, she is forced to betray her ideals and sell herself. After agonizing doubts, the actress becomes the mistress of the wealthy landowner Velikatov and leaves with him. Meluzov, left alone, angrily denounces the depraved "admirers of talent," the masters of the city.