Ottoman Empire, 1897. Doctor Michalis Nikolaidis and his wife Sofia, engage their 9-year-old daughter Iphigenia, with 12-year-old Miltos, son of merchant George Pavlidis and Eugenia. Beyond the friendship of the two families, it is an engagement with purpose. The constant attacks of the fanatical Turks against the Christians are forcing the two families to flee their homeland. Eleven years later, the two young people meet again in Instanbul and fall in love at first sight , unaware of the old family bond.

Iphigenia and Miltos confess their love under the strict supervision of Iphigenia's parents. At the dinner offered by Nicolaides to his friends Kartal and Aslan, executives of the Young Turks movement, Miltos meets his childhood friend Kerem, also fascinated with Iphigenia. Attack of fanatics tarnishes the dinner. Miltos rebels heroically fueling the admiration of Iphigenia. With his brother Themis, they take the ship to Amisos. Iphigenia says goodbye to him sad and in love. Miltos promises to marry her.

All the residents of Amisus welcomes Miltos and the Macedonian warrior Themis. In the shadow of the fanatical Osman, Paulides sets up a feast for his sons. He and his wife are happy with the prospect of Miltos's marriage to Ifigenia. Themis finds his fiancee Vassiliki again. Vasily Sakharov, a friend of Nikolaidis, a banker and weapon dealer from Paris, arrives in Istanbul.

Miltos eagerly returns to Iphigenia's home. He meets Sakharov and impresses him with his intelligence and sharpness. Iphigenia dreams of their common future. Miltos promises her a happy life. Sakharov, however, proposes to follow him to Paris, to become his right hand there. Miltos is excited. Iphigenia reacts.

Ifigenia's anxiety over Miltos's departure to Paris is heightened. Miltos proposes to marry her now if she wants. Ifigenia is proud, she refuses. Miltos arrives in Paris. He is drunk from the air of Europe. The handsome and shy Pontiac, is sought after young Europeans, and neglects Iphigenia, who suffers wounded in his laconic telegrams. In Amisos, George Pavlidis is persuaded to go down to the 1908 elections. Elections that promise big changes in the Ottoman Empire.