Nekhlyudov goes to visit Maslova in prison. Chaos reigns: wire netting keeps visitors several feet away from the prisoners, and one must scream in order to be heard. At first, Maslova does not recognize Nekhlyudov, and begins to flirt. When she realizes who he is, her manner turns harsh. He asks for her forgiveness but she insists she is proud of her life. Nekhlyudov is repelled, but promises to do everything he can to help her. As he leaves, Maslova remembers the night she knew Nekhlyudov had abandoned her for good. She was pregnant, but he didn't know it. She went to find him on a passing army train. She saw him in the train's window, but he didn't see her. She ran alongside the moving train, pounding on the window and crying out. Finally giving up, she fell to the ground, believing that there is no God, no faith, no help, no hope.

Later, Nekhlyudov consults a lawyer to appeal Maslova's sentence, but he realizes that he must do more. He wants to do his part to destroy a society that allows the rich to use the poor in any way they please. He makes a plan to sell all his possessions and divide his land among the peasants who work it. His family and the Korchagins desperately try to talk him out of it, but he renounces his former lifestyle.

Nekhlyudov returns to the prison to have Maslova sign her appeal. He tells her that if the appeal fails he will petition the Emperor. She is drunk. He asks her again to forgive him, and tells her he will marry her. Infuriated, she mocks his "noble" offer. Nekhlyudov hands her a photograph of herself, taken at the May Day festival. She is moved; the photo reminds her of the young woman she once was.

Later, the inspector enters with news that her appeal has been denied, and that she will leave on the next transport for Siberia. Though Nekhlyudov has promised he will not abandon her, Maslova is certain she has seen the last of him.