Three suitors aspire to the hand of Muriel, the miller's daughter, one a big, handsome captain, with a fierce mustache, another the scrivener, who thinks his money bags will gain him the desire of his heart, and third Harold, the minstrel, debonair and gay, whose music has charmed the maid into confiding her affections to him. Unfortunately, the daughter's choice does not coincide with that of her parents and the minstrel is banished. By the magic of his music, however, he calls up a supernatural being and the gift of a talisman suddenly endows him with fortune, which he forthwith places at the disposal of his lady love. Muriel still refuses to marry, however, without her parent's consent, and Harold speeds away to ask it once more. Meeting with a peremptory refusal, Harold uses the magic power of his talisman to force the obdurate pair to give way. Uncanny apparitions dance in the kitchen, and the hanging bags of flour become most gruesome objects, causing an inquiry to be made by the guard into the doings of the miller and his wife. Now is Harold's chance: with a wave of the talisman the fearful apparitions disappear and the thankful parents give the desired consent. The marriage is thereupon celebrated with rejoicing in a scene of brilliant splendor, and the miller finds that after all his daughter's choice was best.