During the Thirty Years' War in Graubunden, which joined Valtellina a century ago, the head of the Catholic party, the influential patrician Pompeo Planta, was convicted of conspiring with Austria-Spain. With the assistance of a young Protestant pastor, Jurg Enach, the court sentenced Plant to exile and deprived of civil and property rights.
Former fellow practitioner of Jürg Enach, Heinrich Wazer makes sketches in the Julian pass Graubünden. Now he is a clever and well-meaning Zurich protocol recorder with great hopes for the future. Suddenly he meets Pompeo Plant with his daughter Lucretia. Jurg Enach, the son of a poor shepherd from Charents, and Lucretia grew up together, since childhood she chose him as her protector, experiencing tender affection for him. While Pompeo Planta is talking with Wazer, the girl secretly writes Enachu on a sketch of the logger of the warning word about an impending disaster,
On the way to Valtellino Berbenn, where Jurg Enach preaches, Wazer is not allowed to sleep in one of the farmsteads. Wanting to find out the reason, he peeks out the window, watching the old woman. She scolds the silly boy Agostino, afraid to entrust the package to him. Taking advantage of the situation, Wazer offers its services and sleeps in the closet reserved for him. Involuntarily, he witnesses a conversation between Pompeo Plant and the assassin Robustelli, from where he learns about the impending assassination attempt on Enach.
In the morning, Wazer sets off on a journey with Agostino. A fanatical boy says that the old woman ordered him to kill his sister, but Henry does not take seriously the words of the fool.
Upon arrival, Wazer is greeted by Jürg and his wife Lucia, a woman of perfect beauty and devotion. Her Valtelline Catholic cousins are unhappy that she married a Protestant. Enach, explaining to a friend cruelty towards the Catholic clergy, speaks of the inevitability of victims. This is a man of unbridled will, courageous to despair and infinitely proud, devoted wholeheartedly to Graubünden. Noticing Wazer's excitement, the pastor, having put a knife to his throat, makes us tell about the impending assassination attempt.
Enach, accompanied by Wazer, unsuccessfully trying to penetrate the border of the Spanish fortress Fuentes. Then they visit the French Duke Heinrich Rogan, resting near Lake Como on the way to Venice. The former leader of the Huguenots in the internal strife is now authorized by Cardinal Richelieu to observe the interests of France in the political intrigue against Austria-Spain. Enach speaks with the duke over a military map, revealing an excellent knowledge of topography, Rogan, agreeing with the pastor’s fervent remarks, remarks that military-political and spiritual authority should not be combined in one person.
On the way back, news of Catholic rebellion reaches Enach and Wazer. Jürg decides to take off his spiritual vestments, since "Graubünden needs a sword."
The people besiege the pastor’s house, where the Protestant brethren, led by Enach, are located. While Jürg is considering how to cross from Valtellina, the fanatic Agostino, shooting through a window, kills his sister Lucia. Enach with a sword in his right hand, bearing his wife on his left, appears on the threshold of a burning house, anger and thirst for revenge are raging in his soul.
The Burbenne massacre is just one of the manifestations of the feud, the instigator of which is Planta. The Spaniards protest from Fuentes and occupy Valtellina by military force.
Enach, who became the leader of the popular party, besieges the castle of Planta - Rydberg. Having burst into Rydberg, the avengers find Pompeo, who hid in the chimney of the fireplace, and brutally crack him down, cutting off with an ax. The old servant Auka hides the bloodied murder weapon, predicting retribution. Jürg fights against the Spanish and Austrian conquerors, legends are made up of his courage and valor. Enach is called the “Graubünden Tell”. But resistance is suppressed by the superior forces of the usurpers.
Zurich, fearing Austria, takes a position of non-intervention. Wazer, earned respect, is quickly moving up the ranks, he is entrusted with the resolution of political issues with Graubünden.
One day, Jürg Enachach asks Wazer for shelter for the night, then the “Graubünden Tell” decides to leave his homeland and join the German army.
He fights in Germany, then under the Swedish banners, and eventually switches to the service of the Venetian Republic. Managing affairs in Dolmacija, Enach shows himself a brave and talented warrior. Jürg is in correspondence with Rogan, thinking over plans for the release of Graubünden.
The Venetian politician Grimani is interested in eliminating Enach, as he feels in him a dangerous force that can raise a rebellion in Graubunden.
But Enach voluntarily leaves Dolmacia and goes to Venice. He stands up for a child crushed by a drunken colonel rushing on a horse, and kills the offender in a duel.
In the Venetian Cathedral there is a meeting of the Duke of Rogan and Enach. Calling for the liberation of his homeland, Jurg draws an allegory: identifying himself with St. George the Victorious, he likens France to the Cappadocian princess, and Spain to the dragon. The Duke, appreciating the openness and determination of Enach, agrees to negotiations.
Lucretia finds shelter with her uncle in Milan. Cousin Rudolph tries unsuccessfully to gain her favor. One day, while fulfilling his friendly duty, he helped the nephew of the governor Serbelloni penetrate the chambers of Lucretia. But the girl stands up to her defense and injures Serbelonni. After which she permits to return to her homeland.
Arriving in Venice, Lucretia turned to the Duchess, and then to Rogan with a request to allow retaliation for his father. Enach, accidentally hearing the prayers of his daughter Plant, gives himself into her hands. Lucretia must decide who owns Enach's life — her or Graubünden. Despite the nobility of Yurga, she is unable to make peace. Rogan decides to take Enach to his service. But Grimani condemns the former pastor for the murder of the colonel. The Duke intercedes for Enach. Grimani, nicknamed "Kassandra," predicts Rogan's future fate, pointing to Enoch's immense ambition. Without heeding the vision of the Venetian, Rogan insists on the liberation of Yurg. Jürg becomes an approximate to Rogan, acting in Graubünden against Spanish dominance. The Spaniards capture Enach, but in order to make sure that it is really him, they ask the local people to identify the captive. The employee who remembers the events of the bloody murder of Plant confirms the identity of Enach. Lucrezia passing by exposes her incognito and claims that this is not the man who killed her father, and then, at the risk of his own life, helps Jurga escape.
Further events unfold favorably for Graubunden, Rogan manages to oust the Austrians and Spaniards. Enachus gains the respect and trust of the duke during impudent attacks on enemies. Rogan wholeheartedly supports the Graubunden land and its prosperity, the people of the French call it “the good duke”.
However, France is in no hurry to regain independence of the Graubunden and withdraw troops, the war with Germany drained the treasury, so there is nothing to pay the Graubunden regiments. Dissatisfaction with French intervention is growing among the local population, and at the same time, faith in the Yurga liberator. The “Good Duke” receives a dispatch in which the agreement approved by him in Kyuvenna is returned with a number of amendments: the troops must remain until the conclusion of universal peace, and the Protestants should not live more than two months a year in Valtellin. Rogan hides this document from Graubünden, reporting only to Jurg.
Enachus, having at stake his humanity, becomes Judas in relation to the duke. He accepts the conditions of Spain: in return for the break with France, Graubunden gained independence. He entrusts secret negotiations with Lucretia, with whom, having stepped over all obstacles, he hopes to unite. Homeland is dear to both of them - and Lucretia leaves for Milan, plunged into the political struggle around Valtellina.
Putting Rogan's attention to sleep, Enach raises the Groubyundets against France. Leading the rebellion and becoming the commander-in-chief of the troops of Graubunden, he presents an ultimatum: the troops of France must leave the Rhine fortifications and Valtellina, and the duke remains hostage. Rogan does not agree to Enach's terms, struck by his betrayal. But when it comes to volunteers who don’t want to re-sit down, the duke signs a scroll to save them from reprisal. Baron Lecc, close to Rogan, offers to avenge the honor of France, but the duke believes that bloodshed and deceit cannot restore the glory of his native country: "I would prefer to keep the honor, even if I had to lose my homeland." Further, Rogan enters the service of the Duke of Weimar as a simple soldier and in one of the battles dies of his wounds.
Spain demands Catholicism in Gruabünden and a free transfer of troops. Enach accepts Catholicism, trying to persuade Austria-Spain to sign an alliance treaty. At the same time, he threatens to regain French influence and only then achieves the signing of an agreement by which peace is concluded with Austria and Spain and the borders and liberties of Graubunden are restored.
On the day the contract was handed over to Chur, the mayor of Zurich Wazer arrives, who brings the news of the death of Rogan. Jürg hands Graubünden a deed of peace.
Cousin Rudolph comes to Lucrezia, who is ready to commit blood feud in order to marry a girl. When during the holiday he leaves with his retinue, taking with him the ax with which Plant was killed, Lucretia goes after the cousin,
Planta's daughter arrives in Chur and finds Enach in the city hall, where he is surrounded by masked people. Rudolph carries the ax, but Jurg succeeds in repulsing the attack, while he kills both Rudolph and the old servant Luke. Dying, the old man puts an ax in the hands of Lucretia. She, full of love and hate, executes Enach, fulfilling the will of an inevitable fate.
