Eero Luotola is a pilot operating in Kalliosaari, whose crush is Annikki, who lives in the same village. They have known each other since childhood and have promised to get married at some point.
In northern Finland in the fall of 1916, Saima Niva rescues a man drifting in the river, who turns out to be a German lieutenant Braun. Braun and his six comrades have managed to escape the prisoner of war at the Muurmann railway station, but the lieutenant has had to get rid of the lost group. While Braun is recovering, under the good care of Saima, Niva's neighbor and henchman of the gendarmes, the greedy policeman Simpura, gets a tip about the refugees camped in the desert.
Niilo, a son of a rich estate owner, is in love with a poor crofter's adopted daughter Heleena. However, on his father's orders, Niilo instead becomes engaged to Loviisa, a daughter of a wealthy landowner. When Niilo wants to call off the engagement, his proud and rejected bride begins to interfere with the lovers' relationship with the help of Penttula, who is said to be able to perform miracles.
The story, set in the 19th century, revolves around the hot-blooded Jussi, a young farmer, and his friend Antti and their brushes with the local nimismies (sheriff) and the häjyt (badmen). The film, shot on location on the plains of Ostrobothnia, conveys a good sense of its unique landscape. Both Järviluoma and the director, Jalmari Lahdensuo were from Ostrobothnia and the film successfully expresses a feeling of the true spirit of the province.
The main characters are the artist Bertel von Bjelke and Hilkka Kanno the adopted daughter of the town councilor. Bertel is in love with Hilka, who, however, behaves badly with the artist. This does not prevent the artist from asking for the girl's hand from the town councilor Kanno, who accepts his friend's request. Kanto stresses, however, that the final decision is up to his daughter.
After Matti is stabbed to death at his own wedding, Eero of Ojelmiston becomes a suspect, presumed to have avenged his recently deceased wife. Eero escapes with the help of a court judge but surrenders after his mother gets into trouble. At the courthouse, the priest admits that Vieremä Jaska confessed to the crime on his deathbed. The film has survived, but without subtitles.
The Drakenhjelm family has lived in the Rautakylä manor for over 150 years. The current master of the house, elderly baron Magnus, has been living for a long time in an unregistered relationship with his housekeeper Lisette, with whom he also has a son, Sebastian. After the baron falls gravely ill Lisette starts getting worried about losing everything, so with Sebastian on her side she demands the baron to write a letter to the pastor and ask him to come over to perform a wedding ceremony. Right after Sebastian has left to fetch the pastor, a threesome seeking shelter from the storm comes to the manor and wreaks havoc on the marriage plans.
In the small village of Nuottaniemi live Iisakki and his daughter Hanna. Iisakki bears a grudge against Heikki, blaming him for the death of his son in a timber rafting accident. To make things worse, Heikki's son Juhani wants to marry Hanna but she only has eyes for the lumberjack Antti.
Martti Vaara, secondary school graduate gets monetary help from his rich uncle under the pretense to get married and have kids. When the uncle unexpectedly arrives to look at the little one, Martti persuades his friends to get involved on the hoax.
Olli, the spoiled young heir of the Koivumäki manor, is separated from his family and brought to Sweden by his cousin. After running away to Finland, he ends up in an educational institution, from where he escapes with the help of his friend Ränni Pelle and returns to his parents.