In the early 17th century, the tyrannical parish priest in Vejlby, Søren Jensen Quist, tries to force his daughter Maren into a lucrative marriage with the wealthy farmer Mikkel Ibsen. However, Maren prefers the bailiff. When Mikkel feels that both the bailiff and the priest are encroaching on his power, he arranges for the priest to be convicted and executed for the murder of Mikkel's brother, Nils Ibsen.