The disaffected wife of a failed civil servant, is thrilled to re-encounter Octavio, a former lover who is now a union activist on the run from a corrupt politician. Hoping to help him, she descends into the Mexican underworld, where she finds a purpose-and a thrill-missing from her married life.

En el Guanajuato de mediados del siglo diecinueve, la belleza y simpatía de la joven heredera Amalia conquistan al humilde capataz Ricardo con resultados funestos. Impedido para consumar su amor, Ricardo se va de Guanajuato adonde vuelve tiempo después convertido en el rico dueño de una mina. A su regreso, el destino le tiene preparado un trágico reencuentro con Amalia.

A young journalist asks an old artist about the portrait of a naked Indian woman that he has in his study. The artist tells the story of Maria Candelaria, a young Indian woman who was rejected by her own people for being the daughter of a prostitute. She is protected by a young Indian man, Lorenzo Rafael, who has fallen in love with her.