On their hike, the two friends Hans and Richard arrive in the Black Forest village of Sankt Christoph on the eve of St. Cecilia's Day, where they find accommodation in the house of the respected cathedral choirmaster Blasius Römer. There they meet his employee Bärbele, who is in love with Blasius Römer. A little later, the attractive Malwine arrives in the village from Berlin and sets her sights on Hans. However, Malwine is rejected by Hans on the evening of the Cäcilienfest dance, who decides in favor of Bärbele, who is shunned by the locals as the niece of the 'Muhme', a woman known as a 'witch'.