Jarvala's daughter Aliina and the miller Jalmari Hurttia are in love with each other. Jarvala's father does not approve of the miller as a son-in-law, because he wants his daughter to marry into wealth. The wealthy widower Elias Horha proposes to Aliina, who eventually agrees to marry the old man.

Esko makes a bet that he will marry the first young woman he encounters. This turns out to be Kirsti, who promptly turns down the proposals. But when she finds about the bet, she agrees to marry him in order to get her revenge.