Somewhere in the Salzburg mountains, young poacher Hans tries to conquer the heart of pretty schoolteacher Helga but is overthrown by forest warden Thomas.
Murders, with victims dying from spines broken by brute strength, erupt in the city and the killers, when encountered, walk away unharmed by police bullets which strike them.
While her new husband is away looking for work, the wife loses the child she was expecting and uses another woman's baby as a substitute so she won't have to upset her spouse when he returns.
The main character repeats the destiny of many peasant women of her time. Her personal feelings were completely uninteresting to her parents, indeed they were always chasing after the profit.