Seventeenth century:After losing his wife and his children ,Nathan Le Cerf enlists to fight in Italy.But he clashes with his superior, Angire, who forces him to fight a duel .Now ,an edict of king Louis the Thirteenth forbade the duels:he is sentenced to death.He escapes, takes refuge in a painter's place ,and falls in love with a ruined young aristocrat, Marthe De Lairic.He wants to take revenge on Angire .