Pierre Provins

At the end of the 18th century, the wealthy French scholar Saussure comes to a small Alpine village and offers 1,000 pieces of gold to anyone who can lead him to the summit of Mont Blanc. The young farmer's son Jacques Balmat wants to take on the dangerous task, even though his father has told him from an early age about the mighty mountain spirits who guard a legendary treasure of gold on the mountain peak.

Philémon, a wealthy dilettante, is going to do his military service in the provinces under the authority of a colonel friend of his father. Lucien, a lieutenant and Jeanne, the colonel's daughter, are secretly in love with each other; but the colonel plans for his daughter a marriage with Philemon. In the meantime, Folette de Saint-Pageot, a coquette, arrives in the village to claim money from the colonel, while also coveting that of Philémon. To protect himself, the colonel makes Folette pass for Lucien's fiancée. Out of spite, Jeanne decides to marry Philémon. They all find themselves in Folette's room, where they have a frank explanation which clarifies all their links. The lieutenant will marry Jeanne, and Folette will be maintained by Philémon.