In 1920s Oslo, Henrik Larsen, an aspiring poet, leaves his girlfriend Gertrude to spend a year as a trapper in Greenland.

There he shares a small winter hut with the station master Randbæk and a scientist named Holm.

After Larsen finds Holm's sled crashed into a ravine, however, he lets Randbaek overtake him, and they agree to work together to survive.

The dogs pull him free and he finds shelter in the prow of a wrecked ship, where he loses consciousness.

Safely returned to Oslo, Larsen claims that Randbaek died in the fire and is reunited with Gertrude, who now agrees to marry him.