Shortly before his father dies, Nikos, as the eldest son, promises to help his twin brother Andreas finish his studies. He sacrifices his dreams and the girl he loves, Anna, and throws himself into the harsh struggle for survival. He sets sail and travels to the ends of the earth, but his ship sinks and he is presumed dead. Meanwhile, Andreas completes his studies, becomes a lawyer, and gets married. When Nikos, who was rescued, returns to Greece years later, without papers, crippled, and poor, ...