Maks Krnec had to abandon his studies in Vienna because of his father’s economic downfall. He pledges revenge on Kantor, a local magnate, landowner, industrialist, merchant and innkeeper. Maks discovered that Kantor had ruined his father and also killed his own infirm cousin to get hold of his land and property. Kantor is about to send his niece Nina who witnessed the murder to nunnery to keep his crime a secret. He also has political ambition to become a member of the country parliament. In order to achieve his goals, he bribes the local men of importance as well as common workers and peasants.
Maks plans to form a worker’s rebellion against Kantor but he does not have enough power to face the actual encounter. He almost succeeds in convincing Kantor’s daughter and his former girlfriend Francka to elope with him. Kantor intervenes and wants to buy Maks’ silence by offering him his daughter and money, which only reinforces Maks’ will for revolt. He leaves Nina’s farewell party, Kantor follows him and shoots him with the gun that belongs to Franc Bernot, Francka’s fiancé.
Although Kantor is conscience-stricken and acknowledges his crime, the investigating judge does not want to believe him. Bernot will be charged with the murder which he did not commit, whereas Kantor, surrounded by common approbation, will become a member of the country parliament.
Written in 1901, this socially critical drama is also a psychological drama of a ruthless Nietzschean character and his morally superior but defeated opponent as well as a profound analysis of political power.
The performance includes songs which are based on various texts by Ivan Cankar and composed in the style of traditional Slovene four-to-six-voice harmony singing.