The fundraiser of the Carmelite Order - Makara's father, wanders the roads and wilderness of 17th Poland, collecting donations. He meets the noble Krasnopolski, who cannot get to the castle of Firlejowa, guarded by greedy and insidious Jesuits. Both gentlemen try to outsmart the monks together, because they both have their own interest in it. Krasnopolski counts on the property of Firlejowa, and Makary on the replacement of the local Jesuits with brothers of his own order.