Mikael Edman leaves his life as a poor backpacker in Anundsjö and, together with his daughter Malin, walks up towards Vilhelmina. He leaves the rest of the family behind him in the cemetery in Anundsjö: his wife and the three youngest children died in the dysentery in the spring. They walk through the spring-green landscape up to the new building Mikael bought above Vilhelmina. He has decided to become his own master, he will create a life for himself and his daughter without poverty and humiliation.
"The Near" - Mikael Edman builds his small house in Stornäs. The daughter Malin has recovered, but remains at Starburnäs, where she helps with the animals. She tries to get herself up to her father at Stornäs, but gets lost on the mountain. At the same time, Jon Olofsson comes to Staburnäs and wants help with the bear hunting: a great beast moves around the mountain and attacks everything alive. The Sami have also come out to hunt the bear. Concern for the girl is growing.