In order to preserve the family farm Hamre, Bente follows her dying father's wishes and marries the brutal landowner's son Gorm. He hunts the young girls on the farm and succumbs to the evil and scheming influence of the marksman Grove. The unhappy marriage turns into a veritable power struggle between Bente and Gorm. At the same time, we follow Bente's younger sister Grethe, who appears to be happily married to Martin, the son of a merchant. However, Martin is unnaturally attached to his mother, and his family spends freely of Grethe's inheritance.