A privileged soldier in Catherine The Great's Russian Army of 1770, was sent to a distant post for disciplinary reasons. On he way there, he picked up a half frozen man and revived him. At the new garrison he fell in love with the Captian's daughter. Against orders he fought a duel with his foe. During this time, the man whose life he saved - had been uniting the Russian Cossacks in uprisings to over throw Catherine.