The film takes place at the beginning of the First World War in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which at that time was part of Ukraine.

On the outskirts of the Russian Empire, a doctor gives a lethal dose of ether to a young woman who wants to seduce her. On suspicion of attempted murder and rape, he is threatened with death, or an exile to Siberia and, at the last moment, the doctor manages to escape. He escapes and finds work in the Austro-Hungarian fortress, where he continues his experiments with the ether, the purpose of which is not only the relief of pain, but also the manipulation of human behavior. Openly proclaiming his atheistic views, the doctor often speaks of the superiority and key role of science. Researching the ether for him is above all: he conducts experiments with his assistant Taras, and after a meeting with the commandant of the fortress begins illegal espionage activities to finance further work. After discovering such activity of the doctor, he tries to commit suicide with the help of ether, but it fails. After all, he was handed a death sentence.