Centred on Aonari Hyokichi, a young literary man with aspirations to become a writer, and the surrounding people, including Kira Tsuneo and Tobigashikaku.
Tokyo, 1890. Through avarice, a series of misunderstandings, and failures of courage, the engagement of Kan-ichi (a student) and Miya (the daughter of Kan-ichi's debtor) is canceled to enable Miya to marry Tomiyama, a wealthy banker's son. In bitter despair, Kan-ichi breaks with his friends, drops his studies, and declares he has ceased to be human. He apprentices to a money-lender, and he's soon ruthless and wealthy. Several years later, Miya's in misery, her husband mistreats her. She goes to Kan-ichi to beg forgiveness; he pushes her away. He's now pursued by Akagashi, herself a cold-hearted loan shark. Can anything free Kan-ichi's hard heart from the golden demon
A penniless orphan loses the woman he loves, when her family arranges a marriage to a wealthy playboy. He believes she was blinded by greed, and becomes a miser.
밝은 달빛이 비치는 대동강가에서 이수일과 심순애는 말없이 달빛만을 바라보고 있다. 백년해로를 맹세했던 순애가 지금은 장안갑부 김중배에게 시집을 가버린 것이다. 어떻게 해서든지 돈을 모으자고 결심한 수일은 일인 고리대금업자에게 고용된다. 한편 순애는 영영 잊혀지지 않는 수일을 사모하다가 병석에 누워 운명이 가까워졌다. 비보를 받고 달려가는 수일,두사람은 다시 새출발을 기약한다.
