At the end of the 19th century, Emilie Bordeleau, daughter of Caleb Bordeleau, decides she wishes to continue her education. She faces great opposition from her small minded entourage, but her spunk and verve win out and she becomes a school teacher. Eventually she falls in love and marries one of her students and they move to Shawinigan and have a whole bunch of children. Though her marriage is based on passion, happiness eludes Emilie, whose husband is an irresponsible lout with a drinking problem. The only job he seems able to hold down is as a lumberjack up north, where his wife and kids cannot follow.