Eastern Finland in 18th century. Farmer Juha has raised an orphan girl Marja and married her. Karelian trader Shemeikka visits the farm and starts to make advances to young and beautiful Marja, tempting her to run away with him.
Manjardo, a young Gypsy leader has spent a lively and joyful life with his young women, Glafira and very keen Akris. He will soon be married to the daughter of the master of another tribe, Esmeralda. From this, her mistresses are no more enthusiastic than Esmeralda and Manjardoka, so the parties of this future couple have never even met each other.
Kilian Melker, heir to a trading house, becomes head of a large enterprise on which the entire future of the financially troubled company depends. He falls in love with Hanna, the daughter of the Niskala family, but marries the wealthy Elisa Karhelin to save his family's fortune.
