In a village from the early 1600s, a woman named Anne, whose mother has been thought to be a witch, develops sympathy toward an old woman, Marte, who is accused of witchcraft. Anne's older but husband, Pastor Absalon's intervention saved her mommy but now, urged on by his mother, he won't help Marte. When Absalon's son returns home and can be attracted to Anne, it is really a question of time before her family fate catches up .