The story is about Gregorio, a young man of humble origins who steals from his father, Don Rufino, to buy liquor. Gregorio is violent, unwilling to work, and constantly lies. He becomes depressed when he remembers his deceased mother and feels unsupported by his father, who is always scolding him. Driven by jealousy, Gregorio kills his girlfriend in the countryside simply for talking to another young man who was courting her. He flees in terror and seeks refuge at a village festival, gets drunk, and tries to seduce a girl who rejects him. The tormented spirit of his girlfriend haunts him, and he hides in his house.