Hubert Gerold, the new forester of the Silver Forest, fights against the deforestation of his idyllic forest with the help of the court councilor. He actually succeeds in convincing the local council to sell building land instead of the forest. When Hubert meets Liesl, the court councilor's granddaughter, at a hunters' ball, his happiness seems complete. But while he is showing her the beauties of the Silver Forest, Liesl's admirer, Max, arrives from Vienna, determined to prevent their relations...