Hans Nielsen Hauge was a Norwegian reformer in the early 1800's both financially and spiritually.

General director Strøm will create a large Norwegian industrial company to tame waterfalls and put them in pipes. But also his wife Sylvia, the gifted pianist, must be tamed. However, Strøm discovers that human material is considerably more difficult to process than the forces of nature.

Rebekka (Jacobsen) is in a loveless marriage, and leaves her husband for the author Sigurd Winge (Mjøen). Also this relationship runs into problems, however, because of Winge's uncontrollable jealousy.