Gösta Berling is a young and attractive minister. Because of his alcoholism and his daring sermons, he is finally defrocked. He becomes a tutor of countess Marta's stepdaughter and they fall in love. But the countess has a plan of her own.
The mayor's son Mauritz Fristedt, has become deeply in love with the baker's daughter Dunungen. The mayor applauds the engagement because Mauritz will to try to foist a pack of worthless shares from his uncle to his father-in-law.
