The tale of “The Handless Maiden” describes the entire arc of a woman’s journey as she struggles to discover her inner self. A poor miller is approached by an old man promising great riches if the miller will give the stranger whatever stands behind his mill. Thinking that only an apple tree stands behind the mill, the man agrees. The stranger says he will return in three years to claim his prize. The miller’s wife says that, in addition to the apple tree, their daughter was standing behind the mill at the time the deal was made. Realizing that they must sacrifice their child, the couple prepares for the worst.

Three years later, the stranger returns. He is actually the devil and can’t come near the girl because she has washed herself and dressed in clean attire. He commands her to cease bathing. When he comes back again, the girl is unkempt but crying. Her tears run down her arms and wash them clean, which again drives the devil away. He commands the miller to cut off the girl’s hands so that she can’t wipe her tears, and the miller obeys. When the devil returns a third time, the girl’s tears have soaked the stumps of her hands and washed them clean.