In the galactic distances, on the planet Musk, a young mountaineer named Jubal Drood leaves his father's home to try his luck. Resourcefulness and courage allow Jubal to become one of the confidants of the influential aristocrat, Ney D'Ever, and he entrusts him with the role of an interplanetary economic spy. Jubal attempts to win the favor of Mieltrude, D'Ever's haughty and beautiful daughter, and becomes the rival and enemy of the unscrupulous and ambitious Ramus Imphe. Having changed his appearance, Jubal follows Ramus to another planet and finds evidence of Ramus' connections to an interplanetary cartel seeking to profit illegally from the Mask. Continuing to pursue Ramus, Jubal overtakes him among the Vaels - a strange people who worship intelligent trees. It is the trees that are destined to decide how the duel between Jubal and Ramus will end...