In the south-west of Ukraine, in a family of wealthy village landowners Popelsky, a blind boy is born. At first, no one notices his blindness, only his mother guesses this from the strange expression on the face of little Petrus. Doctors confirm a terrible guess.
Peter's father is a good-natured man, but rather indifferent to everything except the household. Uncle, Maxim Yatsenko, is distinguished by a fighting character. In his youth he was known everywhere as a “dangerous bully” and justified this characteristic: he left for Italy, where he entered the Garibaldi detachment. In the battle with the Austrians, Maxim lost his leg, received many injuries and was forced to return home to live his life in inaction. Uncle decides to take up the education of Petrus. He has to deal with blind motherly love: he explains to his sister Anna Mikhailovna, mother Petrusa, that excessive caring can harm the development of the boy. Uncle Maxim hopes to raise a new "fighter for the cause of life."
Spring is coming. The child is alarmed by the noise of an awakening nature. Mother and uncle lead Petrus to walk on the river bank. Adults do not notice the excitement of a boy who can not cope with an abundance of impressions. Petrus is losing consciousness. After this incident, mother and Uncle Maxim try to help the boy comprehend sounds and sensations.
Petrus likes to listen to the game of the groom Joachim on the pipe. The groom himself made his wonderful instrument; unhappy love disposes Joachim to sad melodies. He plays every evening, and one of these evenings a blind panic comes to his stable. Petrus learns to play the pipe from Joachim. A mother in jealousy writes out a piano from the city. But, when she begins to play, the boy again almost loses his senses: this complex music seems to him rude, loud. The same opinion and Joachim. Then Anna Mikhailovna understands that in a simple game the groom is much more alive feeling. She secretly listens to the tune of Joachim and learns from him. In the end, her art conquers both Petrus and the groom. Meanwhile, the boy begins to play the piano. And Uncle Maxim asks Joachim to sing folk songs to the blind panic.
Petrus has no friends. Village boys go wild at him. And in the neighboring estate of the elderly Yaskulskys grows daughter Evelina, the same age as Petrusya. This beautiful girl is calm and reasonable. Evelina accidentally meets Peter for a walk. At first, she does not realize that the boy is blind. When Petrus tries to feel her face, Evelina is frightened, and when she finds out about his blindness, she weeps bitterly with pity. Peter and Evelina become friends. Together they take lessons from Uncle Maxim. Children grow up, and their friendship is becoming stronger.
Uncle Maxim invites his old friend Stavruchenko to visit with his sons, students, amateurs and collectors of folklore. Their friend cadet comes with them. Young people bring revival to the quiet life of the estate. Uncle Maxim wants Peter and Evelina to feel that a bright and interesting life is flowing nearby. Evelina understands that this is a test for her feelings for Peter. She firmly decides to marry Peter and tells him about it.
A blind young man plays the piano in front of the guests. All are shocked and predict his fame. For the first time, Peter realizes that he is able to do something in life.
Popelsky pay a return visit to the estate of Stavruchenkov. The hosts and guests go to the N-th monastery. On the way, they stop near the gravestone, under which the Cossack chieftain Ignat Kary is buried, and next to him is the blind bandurist Yurko, who accompanied the chieftain on campaigns. Everyone sighs about the glorious past. And Uncle Maxim says that the eternal struggle continues, although in other forms.
In the monastery, a blind ringer, novice Yegoriy, escorts everyone to the bell tower. He is young and his face is very similar to Peter. Egoriy is embittered all over the world. He rudely scolds village children trying to get into the bell tower. After everyone goes down, Peter remains to talk with the ringer. It turns out that Yegoriy is also blind-born. There is another ringer in the monastery, Roman, blinded from the age of seven. Egoriy is jealous of Roman, who saw the light, saw his mother, remembers her ... When Peter and Yegoriy finish the conversation, Roman comes. He is kind, affectionately treated with a flock of children.
This meeting makes Peter understand the full depth of his misfortune. It is as if he is becoming different, as embittered as Yegoriy. In his conviction that all blind-born evil are Peter tormenting loved ones. He asks to explain the incomprehensible difference in colors for him. Peter painfully reacts to the touch of sunlight on his face. He even envies the poor blind, whose deprivation makes them forget about blindness for a while.
Uncle Maxim and Peter go to the N-th miraculous icon. Nearby, the blind are asking for alms. Uncle invites Peter to explore the share of the poor. Peter wants to leave soon, so as not to hear the songs of the blind. But Uncle Maxim makes him give everyone soap.
Peter is seriously ill. After recovery, he announces to his family that he will go with Uncle Maxim to Kiev, where he will take lessons from a famous musician.
Uncle Maxim really goes to Kiev and from there writes home reassuring letters. And Peter, meanwhile, secretly from his mother, along with the poor blind, among whom the acquaintance of Uncle Maxim Fedor Kandyba, goes to Pochaev. In this journey, Peter learns the world in its diversity and, empathizing with the grief of others, forgets about his suffering.
Peter returns to the estate a completely different person, his soul is healed. Mother is angry at him for deceit, but soon forgives. Peter talks a lot about his wanderings. Uncle Maxim comes from Kiev. A trip to Kiev is canceled for a year.
In the same fall, Peter marries Evelyn. But in his happiness, he does not forget about fellow travelers. Now on the edge of the village stands a new hut of Fedor Kandyba, and Peter often comes to him.
Peter has a son. The father is afraid that the boy will be blind. And when the doctor reports that the child is undoubtedly sighted, Petra embraces such joy that for a few moments it seems to him that he sees everything: heaven, earth, his loved ones.
It takes three years. Peter becomes known for his musical talent. In Kiev, during the "Contracts" fair, a large audience is going to listen to a blind musician, whose legends are already circulating about his fate.
Among the public and Uncle Maxim. He listens to the improvisations of the musician, in which the motifs of folk songs are interwoven. Suddenly a song of the poor blind bursts into a lively melody. Maxim understands that Peter managed to feel life in its entirety, to remind people of other people's suffering. Conscious of this and his merit, Maxim is convinced that he lived his life for good reason.
