Yasha Mazur is a talented Jewish stage magician from Lublin in late 19th-century Poland. He is admired for his illusions and daring performances, but his private life is unstable and full of contradictions. Although married to Esther, he repeatedly engages in extramarital affairs and struggles with his desire for freedom and pleasure.
He becomes involved with Emilia, a Christian widow, and dreams of escaping his life to be with her. In order to achieve this new life, he attempts a burglary to get money, but the plan fails and leads to his moral and emotional collapse.
Shattered by his failures and inner conflict, Yasha eventually abandons his life as a magician. He returns to his wife and turns toward religion, choosing a life of penance, isolation, and spiritual devotion.