Ahti Helpi, the pastor of a rural parish who sees himself as both a priest and a soldier, leaves for the front to continue the war. At home, his pregnant wife Lea takes care of their large family as well as the parishioners. They endure the difficult times by believing in God, home, and their fatherland.
Esko is going to a neighboring village to marry Kreeta after her father arranged the marriage with Esko's father. Esko takes Mikko as his travel companion and that's where Esko's ordeals begin.
Irmeli worships the memory of her deceased composer father, but falls in love with her mother Ruuti's new fiancé, Dr. Hallamaa. Unhappy love depresses Irmeli, and she tries to run away to Sweden. Antti, an engineering student who lives as a tenant in the family's home, sets off after Irmeli to bring her back home.
