Despite the popularity of Walter Scott among us, the proposed novel is practically unknown to the modern reader. The novel takes place in the second half of the 15th century. The French king Louis XI is preparing for war with his mortal enemy Charles the Bold. By cunning and bribery, he is trying to drag the Swiss into this war, especially since Charles seems to be doing everything to incite their hatred, interfering with their trade, allowing extortions and violence in the border cities. However, the inhabitants of the forest cantons of Switzerland are not too inclined towards war. It is these Swiss people that the main characters of the novel, the Englishman Philipson and his son Arthur, meet. They end up with the owners of an ancient castle, whose Geyerstein family is shrouded in secrets and legends...