João da Matta, a hillbilly, is dispossessed of his land by a dishonest colonel. Accused of theft, he flees. Some time later, having discovered the dark past of his tormentor, João returns to rectify his situation. To do so, he demands a declaration absolving him from the colonel – in reality, a fugitive murderer from Bahia. The villain tries to resist and offers João money, but João, incorruptible, insists on the declaration. The colonel writes it, but threatens to accuse him again. However, the...