Act 1
The brothers Stefan and Zbigniew return to their hometown after the war. After their war experiences, the two brothers decide to take an oath to ban women from their homes. They want to remain single and live without obligations so that they can fight and serve their country at any time. Their first challenge to the oath, however, is their stubborn aunt Cześnikova, who has already arranged a wedding with two girls of their choice, whom they firmly reject. When Cześnikowa learns that her nephews are planning to go to the Kalinów estate to collect some of their dead father's debts, she is stunned, fearing that Stefan and Zbigniew might fall in love with MIecznik's daughters Hanna and Jadwiga.
The clever woman starts to counteract this possibility immediately – she tells Zbigniew and Stefan that the Kalinów manor is a cursed, dangerous place that will cause anyone who goes there to die a sudden, violent death. The young men laugh off their cunning aunt’s story.
Act 2
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Kalinów is serene and festive. It is the last day of the year. The girls intend to engage in fortune-telling – each of them wants to know her future and possible love. Jadwiga hums a song called Dumka about her dreams for the future. The women engage in pouring wax. They interpret the shapes it takes after cooling. Mr Damazy sees more mundane symbols: a wig, a tailcoat... Supposedly, Mr Damazy is in love with one of Miecznik's daughters. However, he is far from Miecznik's ideal son-in-law, who would be a soldier, a patriot, and pious. Only then would the suitor be taken into consideration.
Having arrived at Kalinów before Zbigniew and Stefan, Cześnikowa continues her intrigue by speaking unfavourably about her nephews. She wishes for Hanna and Jadwiga to see the young soldiers only as superstitious losers.
After a group of hunters invade the scene arguing about who killed a boar on the street, Stefan and Zbigniew arrive at Mieczniks house.
Hanna and Jadwiga decide to check if Cześnikowa was telling the truth about her nephews. At night, they are going to pretend to be the ghosts of their great-grandmothers to scare the brothers.
Act 3
The guests stay overnight in the castle tower. Skołuba vividly describes the amazing phenomena that happen there to the fearful servant Maciej. When Skołuba leaves, the portraits of Miecznik's great-grandmothers hanging on the wall really start to move. Terrified, Maciej runs to the next room, where Stefan and Zbigniew stay the night. They mock the old servant, but eventually take pity on him. Maciej is going to share the room with Zbigniew, while Stefan goes to the vacated corner chamber with a clock and the portraits. Forgetting about his oath of not getting married, he dreamily muses about Hanna. When Mr Damazy hidden in the clock triggers the chime, its melody turns Stefan's thoughts towards his late parents. Zbigniew, who was also tormented by insomnia, comes into the room and talks about Jadwiga's beauty. Just like his brother, he forgets about the oath. Hanna and Jadwiga, hidden behind the paintings, eavesdrop on the brothers' conversation.
Zbigniew and Stefan notice the movement behind the paintings and decide to catch the jokers in act. They leave Maciej alone in the room, but he quickly falls asleep. Then, Damazy seizes the opportunity to slip out of his hiding spot in the clock. However, he does it clumsily and wakes Maciej. The servant, despite being horrified, catches Damazy. The brothers return and demand satisfaction for his mockery. In order to save his hide, Damazy lies that he used the presence of young soldiers to examine the truthfulness of the legend. He says that Kalinów is cursed because of the heinous acts committed here in the past, as evidenced by the name ‘Haunted Manor’. Stefan and Zbigniew not only believe his story, but also decide to leave the manor.
Act 4
The brothers do not want to give any reasons behind their sudden decision. Irritated, Miecznik begins to suspect them of cowardice, but outraged Maciej repeats Damazy's story. Miecznik wants to tell the young men the truth about the ‘Haunted Manor’. The story is interrupted by a sleigh ride, in which they find none other than disguised Damazy. Interrogated by Miecznik, he admits that his intrigue and his lies were caused by love for one of the girls. Eventually, he runs away, ridiculed, and Miecznik tells the promised story.
Miecznik's great-grandfather had nine daughters. They were so beautiful that every young man who visited Kalinów immediately asked for the hand of one of them, and jealous mothers of the women from neighboring estates called Kalinów the ‘Haunted Manor’. Stefan and Zbigniew apologise to Miecznik for their suspicions and ask him to consider having them as his sons-in-law. The touched Miecznik gives his blessing to both couples.
